ProBioGen, a global Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), is partnering with DIOSynVax to manufacture DIOS-HFVac3, a trivalent haemorrhagic fever (HF) vaccine that was developed in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagners team at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg. The novel vaccine targets HF diseases caused by Ebola, Marburg, and Lassa viruses. Epidemics of viral haemorrhagic fevers are a major public health concern and economic burden.

The pre-clinical efficacy of the novel trivalent vaccine has been demonstrated in challenge studies in animal models. ProBioGen’s MVA CR19 vector will be used to deliver the three HF vaccine antigens.

Marburg virus illustration

DIOS-HFVac3 will be manufactured on ProBioGen’s industrial platform, which was developed for the production of a broad range of viral vaccines. The platform consists of the company’s proprietary AGE1.CR.pIX suspension cell line, proprietary chemically defined media and advanced scalable production and purification process. Under the terms of the agreement, ProBioGen will conduct process and analytical development followed by manufacturing of DIOS-HFVac3 for clinical trials and subsequent regulatory approval.

“Our collaboration with DIOSynVax represents a significant milestone in ProBioGen’s journey,” said Dr Volker Sandig, Chief Scientific Officer at ProBioGen. “Our innovative platform for the manufacturing of DIOS-HFVac3 underscores our commitment to advancing robust and resilient biopharmaceutical solutions for global health challenges, independent of the geographic region where these challenges may occur.”

This research is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care as part of the UK Vaccine Network (UKVN), a UK Aid programme to develop vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries.