German based biotech company CILIAN AG reports positive in vivo results for its seasonal sub-unit flu vaccine, CiFlu. Immunogenicity studies were conducted in non-human primates. In collaboration with CILIAN’s scientific partners within the European ADITEC consortium, a quadrivalent seasonal flu vaccine was tested at the facilities of CEA’s Division of Immuno-Virology in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France. The tested vaccine contained recombinant hemagglutinin of two A-strains and two B-strains.

Significant and strong immunogenicity measured with a standardized hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test was achieved and seroconversion occurred in the primates. Non-human primates are an in vivo model closest to humans. Results usually seen in this model are considered indicative of efficacy expected in clinical trials in humans. Results seen by CILIAN in primates confirm results already seen in a number of other pre-clinical studies conducted with CiFlu. This is further evidence that CiFlu® is an effective, fully recombinant, none egg-based sub-unit flu vaccine without adjuvant or other impurities.

CiFlu is manufactured using CILIAN’s proprietary CIPEX protein expression system. CIPEX uses a single cell organism, Tetrahymena thermophila. This expression system produces a very robust protein in a safe, fast and significantly less expensive process as compared to egg-based systems.