"Bird flu: a new emerging pandemic risk factor"

Raises the need to secure vaccines

'H5N1,' a type of influenza A, is spreading…human infections have been reported

"We must establish a platform to reduce the time to develop…also need vaccine imports"

Jacob Lee, Professor of the Division of Infectious Disease at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital.

The industry is preparing against avian influenza, which can be transmitted from animal to human, as it is predicted to be the next pandemic risk factor.

 

Experts suggest that an improved vaccine technology development and manufacturing system are required ahead of the emerging pandemic following COVID-19.

 

CSL Seqirus Korea held a press conference on September 24th at Hotel President in Seoul to share the recent advances in avian influenza.

 

During the meeting, Jacob Lee, Professor of the Division of Infectious Disease at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, emphasized strengthening Korea's response measure strategy for avian influenza.

 

Avian influenza is an infectious respiratory disease that commonly occurs in wild birds.

 

Recently, there have been cases of animal and human infections in addition to poultry and wild birds.

 

In March, a death case was reported in Vietnam related to avian influenza human infection.

 

The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu, which emerged from a type of influenza A and is spreading world-wide, has infected over 300 species of birds and over 40 species of animals.

 

14 cases related to H5N1 human infection transmitted from cows and birds were reported in the United States alone.

 

Several duck farms in South Korea have recently reported H5N1 infection cases.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) is preparing responses to potential influenza pandemic, such as holding a symposium to discuss response plans.

 

Lee said, "Although continual human-to-human infection has not been reported, there are increasing cases of animal-to-human infection.

 

The academics consider avian influenza as the risk factor for causing the next pandemic." And added, "We could use vaccine technologies developed for COVID-19, such as the messenger RNA (mRNA) platform, for influenza.

 

Establishing these platforms can reduce development time once an antigen is chosen." mRNA vaccines are composed of mRNA molecules and lipid nanoparticles surrounding it.

 

mRNA contains a genetic material that can synthesize target proteins, and lipid nanoparticles protect mRNA, working as a transporter to deliver mRNA into the body.

 

Recent studies showed that lipid nanoparticles can function as not only an mRNA transporter but also an 'immune enhancer,' increasing immune responses to vaccines.

 

Lee says that Korea needs to secure vaccines that can enhance immunity since technology is still lacking.

 

CSL Seqirus is known to manufacture vaccines rapidly through its platform.

 

The company can readily shift from manufacturing seasonal vaccine influenza to pandemic influenza vaccine using its global manufacturing network.

 

Moreover, the company manufactures and supplies vaccines for viral variations and zoonotic viruses.

 

Marc Lacey, CSL Seqirus Global Pandemic Head, said, "We have built vaccine technologies through years of vaccine development experiences.

 

For example, MF59 can enhance immune responses with a small antigen dosage.

 

For H5N1 avian influenza variant, it only took 79 days until the vaccine developed.

 

Our company can readily respond to global pandemic influenza." Lee said, "Vaccines that can be produced domestically in South Korea are egg-based and cell-based.

 

Korea needs to develop the mRNA vaccine platform and immune enhancers.

 

If the development is difficult, we must establish a system to introduce vaccines from overseas."