Irish biotech Ovagen believes study can 'transform' global vaccine manufacture
The company carried out its breakthrough study into yellow fever virus yield. Conducted at the UK's Pirbright Institute, the comparative study showed that Ovagen's Germ Free embryonated chicken eggs delivered up to 7,600 doses of yellow fever virus per egg compared to just 422 doses per egg using current industry standards.
Speaking about the results of the study, Dr. Catherine Caulfield, CEO of Ovagen said:
"What we have developed isn't incremental, it's a complete rethink of the vaccine manufacturing process," said Ovagen chief executive Dr Catherine Caulfield. "Our germ free egg platform eliminates bacterial contamination and reduces the need for antibiotics in vaccine production, while delivering significantly higher viral yield.
"This is high-impact science with high-value commercial outcomes.'
The comparative study showed that Ovagen's Germ Free embryonated chicken eggs delivered up to 7,600 doses of yellow fever virus 17D per egg compared to just 422 doses per Specified Pathogen-Free (SPF) Egg using current industry standards. With a current global shortfall of 60m yellow fever vaccines per year, Ovagen's technology can help scale up production of yellow fever vaccine production by reducing reliance on key raw material inputs such as SPF eggs, antibiotics, and downstream processing resources.
More than 140,000 eggs would be required to satisfy the current global shortfall using current industry standards compared with just 7,894 eggs using Ovagen's technology.
The improved yield also dramatically reduces the volume of antibiotics typically required in conventional egg-based manufacturing, helping to mitigate risks associated with antimicrobial resistance and lowering overall production costs.
Based in Co Mayo, Ovegen has been supported over €21m in funding from Enterprise Ireland, private investors, promoters funds, venture capital, and the European Innovation Council.
Ovagen operates from a purpose-built state-of-the-art facility and has successfully completed pilot trials with major vaccine manufacturers.
'Enterprise Ireland is proud to support Ovagen as they continue to scale their innovation and ambition. Their germ-free egg technology shows real potential to drive greater efficiency in vaccine manufacturing, and it's encouraging to see this level of innovation emerging from the West of Ireland. Ovagen's progress highlights the strength of Ireland's biotech sector and the impact that Irish companies can have on global health challenges," said Enterprise Ireland head of industrial and life sciences Tom Cusack.
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