CHA Vaccine Research Institute, an affiliate of CHA Biotech, announced on the 29th that it was selected as the lead organization for the government project ‘2024 Vaccine Commercialization Technology Development Project’ hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The project period is until December 2027, and the total amount of the project is 1.2 billion won.
CHA Vaccine Research Institute focuses on developing a ‘next-generation recombinant protein vaccine that can prevent acute encephalitis caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)’ in cooperation with Chosun University’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (Professor Kim Dong-min’s research team at the College of Medicine) and the Jeonnam Biotechnology Agency’s Biopharmaceutical Research Center. . The goal of this research is to develop a vaccine that effectively protects against the ‘new type 5 genotype (GV) Japanese encephalitis virus’ that mainly appears in Korea.
The focus is on establishing domestic vaccine sovereignty by increasing the self-sufficiency rate of Japanese encephalitis vaccine finished products and raw medicines, which are entirely dependent on imports, and creating opportunities to generate new profits for the Tea Vaccine Research Institute.
Japanese encephalitis is a zoonotic disease caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). The main vector is the little red house mosquito. 20-30% of infected people die, and 30-50% of survivors suffer serious neurological sequelae.
Recently, the population of mosquitoes is increasing and their survival period is lengthening due to climate change. There is no cure for Japanese encephalitis, and vaccination is the only response. The vaccines currently in use are killed and live vaccines. These vaccines have a high risk of side effects and safety issues due to allergic substances or mercury agents. There is also a limitation in that the method of administering the virus is that it cannot be administered to people with weakened immune systems.
All existing vaccines were developed based on the genotype 3 (GIII) Japanese encephalitis virus and are not very effective against the recently discovered genotype 5 (GV) Japanese encephalitis virus. Type 5 Japanese encephalitis virus has been prevalent in Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore since 2010. It has a higher fatality rate than type 3, and cases of infection occur even after receiving a type 3-based vaccine.
Through this research project, CHA Vaccine Research Institute aims to develop a safe and effective next-generation Japanese encephalitis recombinant protein vaccine. We create an antigen that can induce cross-protection against various genotypes, including type 3 and 5 viruses, and combine it with our independently developed immune enhancers, L-pampo and Lipo-pam, to create a vaccine that can strongly induce an immune response. It is planned to be developed.
Jeong-seon Yeom, CEO of CHA Vaccine Research Institute, said, “With this national project, we will accelerate the development of a next-generation Japanese encephalitis vaccine tailored to domestic genotypes,” and added, “We will achieve vaccine self-sufficiency and secure competitiveness in the global market to prevent various viral diseases, including Japanese encephalitis.” “We will also contribute,” he said.
Reporter Song Hye-young hybrid@etnews.com
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