Effect on the Organization of Vaccine Production
Figure 3. Comparison of estimated timelines for influenza vaccine development and manufacture using recombinant vectors versus
live influenza virus.2
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Upgrading the embryonated egg platform with the technologies and systems described here could help to update the flu vaccine
manufacturing process. The shorter lead time needed for producing an AdCEV production vector would offer near real-time development
of vaccines for emerging pathogen strains. Vector technologies can reduce the time from strain isolation to full-scale flu
vaccine production from the current norm of 28 weeks to 20 weeks (Figure 3).
AdCEV vectors are being optimized for use within the framework of small- to medium-scale facilities that can manufacture a
mix of products targeting state, national, or regional biopharmaceutical markets for added sustainability. Such a manufacturing
system adds a long sought-after component to the global influenza surveillance and manufacturing system by offering the potential
for rapid, regional level responses to the threat of rapidly evolving strains of pathogenic influenza.
Funding Surge Capacity from Other Market Opportunities
Financing an increase in global flu vaccine manufacturing capacity requires infrastructure to sustain preparedness, and to
rapidly surge production. The cost of implementing upgrades to vaccine production as outlined by the WHO is estimated at $3–10
billion and depends heavily on private sector investment and the commitment of existing manufacturers.4 Manufacturers have responded to the current swine flu pandemic generously, committing nearly 157 million of the estimated
200 million dose target set by the WHO for immunization of target populations in poor countries.9 Using the AdCEV/egg platform, the growing demand for recombinant products in diagnostics and research reagent industries
can be used as an economic foundation for sustaining pandemic preparedness. Five non-vaccine biologic market segments could
sustain the growth of a global vaccine manufacturing network: human biologics, human diagnostics, agricultural, specialties,
and non-medical diagnostics. They offer products with market values ranging from $5 to 20,000 per mg of recombinant protein,
which is an amount reasonably produced in a single chicken egg using AdCEV technology.
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