In August 2021, the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) developed by WestVac Biopharma Co.,Ltd and National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University entered clinical trials in Japan.
This is the first time a COVID-19 vaccine developed in China has been tested in a clinical trial in Japan.
The Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine was jointly developed by a team of scientists led by Professor Yuquan Wei, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the director of the National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Using the baculovirus-insect cell expression system, by means of the insect cells can mass multiply in culture medium, the COVID-19 protein S was produced by introducing COVID-19 genes into insect cells, in order to induce human body to produce antibodies against viral infection. This technology is believed to be one of the safest ways to produce vaccines.
Previously, Nagasaki University, together with Kobe City Translational Research Center for Medical Innovation (TRI), had been preparing the necessary procedures prior to clinical trials of the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) and had obtained approval from Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in mid-August. At the end of August, a total of 240 healthy volunteers were enrolled and received the vaccine.
On September 15, Academician Yuquan Wei said in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN): "We haven’t see any significant adverse reactions at this point."
In addition, the phase III clinical trials of the Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) are progressing smoothly in Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya and other countries.
In addition to the above-mentioned COVID-19 vaccine, WestVac Biopharma will also rely on five major technology platforms in the future, which include insect cell expression system, mRNA vaccine platform, tumor vaccine platform, novel adjuvant platform and novel immunotherapy platform, to develop and produce more innovative vaccines for a global immune barrier.
WestVac Biopharma has always been seeking innovation for preventing and conquering human diseases!