Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says that the list of emerging infectious diseases is hardly limited to outbreaks of previously unknown pathogens. It also includes known diseases that gain in numbers or geographic extent, or that persist and remain uncontrolled. The list includes chikungunya, HIV, and dengue infections as well as the reappearing influenza and pneumococcal diseases. Industry, government, and academia are attempting to stay one step ahead of these diseases by developing new vaccines, technologies, and therapeutics. This article describes some of these creative approaches and emphasizes the contributions of industry players.
Because viruses often mutate, some new vaccines are targeting updated serotypes currently in circulation. For example, an earlier pneumococcal vaccine targeted serotypes responsible for about 4% of today’s adult illness, while a new vaccine in clinical trials targets serotypes responsible for 85%. Another strategy for vaccine development is to employ several platforms. One company is utilizing two approaches: a large vector-based vaccine and a virus-like particle (VLP). The former can incorporate elements that encode different viral proteins. The latter can incorporate structures that allow it to mimic wild-type viruses.
Other vaccine developers are interested in countering the increasing danger of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. For example, vaccines are being built that incorporate multiple inactivated staphylococcus toxins. Besides developing innovative technologies, industry players are collaborating with government entities. For example, Johnson & Johnson Innovation—JLABS has launched Blue Knight, a collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.