Natsimbio and ISCH: A combined vaccine for the prevention of influenza and coronavirus infection

The main articles are:

• Vaccines in Russia
• Vaccines against coronavirus COVID-19
• Vaccines against coronavirus COVID-19 in Russia
• Flu
• Coronavirus COVID-19
• Coronavirus COVID-19 in Russia

2022: Clinical Research Agreement

The Human Stem Cell Institute (ISKJ) and Rostec pharmaceutical holding Natsimbio have signed an agreement on clinical research, production and commercialization of a jointly developed combined vaccine for the prevention of influenza and coronavirus infection. The company "Natsimbio" announced this on December 29, 2022. The main scope of preclinical studies of the drug passed in August 2022 and showed compliance with international requirements of the level of safety, immunogenicity and protectivity.

The vaccine contains components developed by Natsimbio to protect against four seasonal strains of influenza viruses, as well as a component that provides protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Antigen for immunization against covid and the technological platform on the basis of which the vaccine was created - the development of ICS.

COVID-19 can become seasonal, such as the flu, so a combined vaccine against these viral infections has important social significance. One vaccination will be enough to protect the body from two diseases at once, which can increase vaccination coverage and lead to an increase in the effectiveness of preventive measures against influenza and coronavirus. For a person, it is just convenient - one vaccination, one visit to a medical institution, and immediately immunity to two diseases, - said Rostec Executive Director Oleg Yevtushenko.

Mass production of the drug is planned to be launched at one of the factories of the Natsimbio holding.

The development of a combined vaccine will give a more effective use of health care products than the organization of vaccination by each component separately. We also hope for a more positive attitude in people towards vaccination simultaneously against covid and influenza, and, as a result, a significant and positive impact on the epidemiology and incidence of both infections and positive effects on the country's economy, "said Artur Isaev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ISKCH.

The immediate plans of Natsimbio and ISCH are to obtain permission from the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation to conduct a clinical trial of a phase I-II drug.

ISCH is developing a platform for the development of antiviral candidate vaccines based on surface recombinant proteins and spherical adjuvant particles together with the company of the BioTechnologies Development Group (RBT). Earlier, vaccines against the Betuvax-Kov-2 coronavirus and influenza - TetraFlyBET were developed on this platform. The technological platform of RBT is aimed at lower reactogenicity of vaccines and side effects. At the same time, the "protective" properties of vaccines, such as immunogenicity, remain at a high level.