Production of a novel influenza vaccine using insect cells: protection against drifted strains

A recombinant trivalent hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine produced in cell culture using the baculovirus expression system provides an attractive alternative to the current egg‐based influenza vaccine (Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine [TIV]) manufacturing process. The HA genes from the annual World Health Organization‐recommended strains are cloned, expressed, and purified using a general purification process. Here, we provide an overview of the expression technology used to make the annual adjustment of the vaccine and the clinical studies completed to date with recombinant HA. The highly purified protein vaccine, administered at three times higher antigen content than TIV, results in stronger immunogenicity, a long‐lasting immune response and provides cross‐protection against drift variant influenza viruses. Furthermore, the vaccine does not contain egg proteins, adjuvants, preservatives, endotoxins, or antibiotics and can therefore be used in a broader population.