“We see already a higher awareness of why life science needs to be a priority for Japan and Australia”

Cytiva (formerly part of GE Healthcare Life Sciences), a global provider of technologies and services that advance and accelerate the development and manufacture of therapeutics, has joined hands with Takara Bio to manufacture a DNA vaccine candidate for COVID-19.

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In collaboration with Osaka University and AnGes, Inc. group, Takara Bio is working on an innovative plasmid vaccine. The DNA vaccine would generate the SARSCoV2 protein which would become an antigen, and help people develop immunity against the virus. DNA vaccines are said to be safely manufactured in a short period of time without using any dangerous pathogens. By injecting circular DNA (plasmid DNA) that encodes the protein of the target pathogen, the pathogen protein is produced in the body and immunity to the pathogen is generated. Unlike attenuated vaccines, it has no pathogenicity. BioSpectrum Asia spoke to Stephane Perrey, General Manager Japan, Australia, New-Zealand, Cytiva based in Tokyo about the collaboration with Takara and COVID-19 impact on the life sciences sector in Japan and Australia.

How is Cytiva helping Takara gear up for COVID-19 vaccine production? When will the vaccine be ready?

Developing vaccines and therapies for emergency purposes is complex. Every day without a solution means more people getting infected and more patients turning up to the emergency room. Every day counts.

Today, the whole world is focused on finding a solution to the global pandemic. Meanwhile, individual countries are preparing for a potential ‘second wave’ of infection across their population. Hope for a solution sits with the biotechnology industry including biopharmaceutical companies, diagnostic developers and academic researchers. One of those is Cytiva, a global provider of technologies and services that help advance and accelerate the development and manufacture of therapeutics. We have provided equipment, consumables and expertise for the research, development and manufacturing of vaccines and therapies. Many of our customers are seeking technical advice and solutions on an unprecedented timeline and scale.