CSL Enters Licensing Agreement with Arcturus Therapeutics :
Today, CSL Limited reports that its subsidiary, CSL Seqirus, has collaborated and licenced its late-stage self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) vaccine platform technology to Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc (or “Arcturus Therapeutics”).
Future mRNA vaccines are being created by Arcturus Therapeutics. It has created a COVID-19 vaccine candidate and recently published the findings of a sizable Phase III vaccine efficacy study, which showed that the COVID-19 vaccine candidate met its primary and secondary endpoints of infection prevention and severe disease prevention with an excellent safety and tolerability profile.
“This collaboration is an exciting opportunity to complement CSL’s own next generation mRNA program with a partner who developed a platform to deliver late stage clinical supplies at scale. These combined capabilities will accelerate our journey in mRNA,”
Paul McKenzie, Chief Operating Officer, CSL
“Importantly, it is another step towards our long-term aim to advance public health by developing and commercializing enhanced vaccines for influenza and multi-pathogen pandemic preparedness. The collaboration also provides a pathway to offer a COVID-19 booster, providing another differentiated option to healthcare providers and governments around the world.”
Steve Marlow, Seqirus General Manager, CSL
With a long history of producing influenza vaccines, CSL Seqirus is a world leader in the prevention of influenza. CSL is well-positioned to make strategic investments in both the advancement of the company’s existing platforms and in longer-term, high opportunity development activities as a result of this, as well as CSL R&D’s established expertise in vaccine research and clinical development.
Through its global manufacturing network, which includes sites in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, CSL Seqirus manufactures influenza vaccines. CSL is investing in a new facility in Waltham, Massachusetts to support the company’s R&D portfolio, with a particular focus on the sa-mRNA technology platform, while it also expands its R&D presence. This facility will act as a research and development (R&D) hub for developing new vaccines and collaborating with stakeholders from the business and academic worlds.
“This collaboration on next generation mRNA is another example of CSL’s relentless pursuit of disruptive innovation when public health and patients can benefit. We look forward to working closely with Arcturus to shape the future therapeutic landscape of influenza vaccines and also using this exciting scientific and strategic platform to develop and commercialize vaccines for other seasonal and pandemic respiratory viruses with high unmet need.”
Dr Bill Mezzanotte, Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer, CSL
COVID-19 :
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is extremely infectious. COVID-19 has the potential to cause respiratory symptoms, which can range in severity from minor to life-threatening. 2 to 14 days after virus contact, symptoms may start to show. Over 95 million cases of the illness have been confirmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and over 1 million people have died in the US. Everyone in the United States 6 months of age and older should receive the COVID-19 immunisation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By completing a primary series vaccine and obtaining the most recent booster dosage advised for them by the CDC, it is advised to stay current on COVID-19 vaccination.
Seasonal Influenza :
Influenza is a widespread, contagious seasonal respiratory illness that can, in some cases, result in severe sickness and sometimes fatal consequences. Clinical signs and symptoms of influenza can range from mild to moderate respiratory illness to serious consequences, hospitalisation, and in rare cases, death. The sickness is easily spread to others because influenza viruses can infect people up to 5 to 7 days after being ill and up to one day before symptoms appear.
According to CDC estimates, there were around 405,000 influenza-related hospitalizations in the United States during the 2019–20 influenza season. For people aged 6 months and older who do not have any contraindications, the CDC suggests a yearly immunisation. It is advised that people get vaccinated before the flu starts to spread in their community since it takes around two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to form in the body that help guard against influenza virus infection. The CDC advises that vaccinations be administered before the end of October.
Pandemic Influenza :
The timing and severity of pandemic influenza, an airborne respiratory disease, are unpredictable. Because there is probably little to no pre-existing immunity to the virus in the human population, the risk of influenza-associated morbidity and mortality is higher in pandemic influenza than in seasonal influenza. Over the past century, there have been four influenza pandemics, with the 1918 pandemic being the most recent and deadly, with up to 50 million deaths worldwide predicted. The highly pathogenic avian A(H5N1) strain of the new influenza A virus, for example, can cause serious illness and have a high fatality rate, according to the CDC. The effects on public health might be severe if the influenza A(H5N1) virus evolved and became quickly contagious from person to person while still possessing the ability to cause life-threatening illness.
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