Covid-19: Auckland firm develops RNA production platform, paving way for Kiwi vaccine

Stuff, Auckland, NZ, 06 Nov 2021

They came to widespread public notice with the use of RNA in Pfizer and Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccines, but they are also being used in a range of new medical treatments beyond vaccines.

Previously, RNAs were produced in New Zealand by researchers on a small scale, using kits.

In a statement, Biocell said RNA technology was tied up in a complex web of patents. The details of how RNA was produced were closely guarded corporate secrets.

Only a few companies could produce high quality RNA at the scale needed for vaccines or mass market drugs, Biocell said.

The company has developed a platform, dubbed RapidNA, to quickly produce large amounts of RNA in New Zealand.

Its south Auckland production facility has pharmaceutical grade clean rooms for producing RNA.

The platform was “rapidly scalable” and could produce highquality mRNA (messenger RNA, as used in the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine) of varying lengths, the company said.

In addition to the RNA platform, Biocell will install New Zealand’s first high-speed automated filling machine at its Papatoetoe production facility.

The machine will be able to fill up to 100 million vaccine doses on site.

The machine and the RNA platform set the stage for the future production of RNA-based vaccines and drugs in New Zealand, the company said.

Biocell chief executive Nidish Nair said the development of the RapidNA platform would not have been possible without funding from Crown entity Callaghan Innovation.

“While the RNA technology is not a panacea and will not replace other manufacturing platforms, having the ability to produce high quality mRNA through a scalable and reproducible process will be critical for most countries as part of their emergency preparedness and resilience,” Nair said.

“We are proud to be able to help establish that capability and capacity in New Zealand.”

Nair said the new production platform was about making RNA technology accessible to Kiwi academics, scientists and Crown research institutes and private businesses to fast track RNA-based projects.

It has already borne fruit, according to Professor John Fraser, dean of medical and health sciences at the University of Auckland.

Fraser said an agreement between the university and Biocell to use the RapidNA technology was key to a successful bid to the US non-profit Welcome Leap fund for a Staphylococcal mRNA vaccine.

Callaghan Innovation group manager Simon Yarrow said BioCell used the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to increase its skills and apply its technology to something totally new.

“We’re proud to see this Kiwi technology now taking on an urgent global problem.”

NZ-first vaccine filling machine nears completion, could boost vaccine supply

RNZ, Auckland, NZ, 13 August 2021

An Auckland-based biotechnology company says its New Zealand-first vaccine filling machine is on target for completion in Germany, and will potentially boost Covid-19 vaccine supply not only in New Zealand but globally.

Last year, Biocell was being allocated $3 million from the government to upgrade its facilities as part of the country’s Covid-19 vaccine strategy and the money was used to help secure the machine.

Biocell chief executive Nidish Nair said the automated machine, which puts liquid into little bottles, ensured both accuracy and sterility and could fill up to 100 million doses a year.

“This is an excellent piece of machine and is being designed and manufactured by the same company that has supplied filling machines to the companies that are filling the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines,” he said.

Final assembly was being carried out at the moment and the machine would move into “factory acceptance testing” to prove that it met specification, Nair said.

It was expected to be ready for shipping in October.

“This is quite a significant milestone for New Zealand because what it does is enable us to move to the next league where we are producing not just for New Zealand and Pacific islands but for the greater international community … we are quite excited about this.”

The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment confirmed that as far as it was aware, the machine would be “the only machine in New Zealand of this capacity intended for human vaccine filling”.

Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods said in a statement: “I’m thrilled to see that our investment in Biocell is paying off and that our Covid-19 vaccine strategy is taking yet another step forward.

“While there is still some way to go this automated vaccine filling machine has the potential to future proof our ability to deal with pandemics.”

Free Radical Scientist Awarded 2011 Rutherford Medal

Stuff, Auckland, NZ, 17 November 2020

The 2011 Rutherford Medal, New Zealand’s top science and technology honour, was awarded to Professor Christine Winterbourn, director of the free radical research group in the pathology department at the University of Otago, Christchurch. With more than 260 publications under her belt, Winterbourn was one of the first scientists to demonstrate that human cells produce free radicals as part of their normal functions. Her research also involves researching the chemical reactions of free radicals that occur in diseases such as cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease and arthritis. Read More […]

Stabilitech takes next step in race for a vaccine, announces Biocell as manufacturer for OraPro-COVID-19

Burges Hill, UK, 12 June 2020

STABILITECH BIOPHARMA LTD (“Stabilitech”), a UK biotechnology company developing next generation vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, has announced today a partnership with Biocell Corporation (New Zealand) to manufacture its oral coronavirus vaccine, OraPro-COVID-19.

The Auckland-based company has 30 years’ experience in manufacturing viral vaccines, with its recent acquisition of Living Cell Technology’s GMP compliant cell culture facility providing dedicated premises for the manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines.

“After a successful recent fundraising round, this signed agreement represents a crucial next step for OraPro-COVID-19,” said Stabilitech’s Chairman Wayne Channon. “It brings us closer to providing a vaccine that gives both mucosal and systemic immunity to COVID-19. This will target the virus exactly where we catch it: in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and even the eyes. By taking this approach, we believe OraPro-COVID-19 could prove to provide the fastest route to widespread global immunity, turning the tide on the pandemic.”

Human trials for Stabilitech’s potential breakthrough vaccine are scheduled for August of this year. If successful, the deal signed with Biocell means that a vaccine could be available by the end of 2020.

“We are delighted to be working with Stabilitech to manufacture a vaccine for COVID-19,” explained Biocell’s CEO Nidish Nair. “Our team includes three award winning scientists, as well as a host of other highly skilled technical employees, who will all be working to enhance technology transfer and process development for Ora-Pro-COVID-19. The partnership also represents a great opportunity for New Zealand to play a part in the race for a COVID-19 vaccine, further highlighting our ability to undertake internationally recognised research and manufacturing projects.”

While there are over 100 other companies and institutions working towards what UN Secretary-General António Guterres dubbed at the recent GAVI World Vaccine Summit as “the people’s vaccine”, reaching the manufacturing stage is an indicator of Ora-Pro-COVID-19’s potential. The deal also shines a light on the great strides that smaller biopharma companies around the world are making in the race for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Government allocates $3M to Biocell as part of the Covid-19 vaccine strategy

Beehive.govt.nz, Wellington, NZ, 27 August 2020

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Wood have allocated $3 million to Biocell for the upgrade of our facilities, which will allow for large-scale manufacturing of a Covid-19 vaccine here in New Zealand. “Biocell will be able to manufacture up to 100 million doses.” This forms part of the government fund announced today, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, that is being put towards accessing a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine once available.

Ardern highlighted the importance of a proactive approach to securing a Covid-19 vaccine, as global vaccine allocations and drug-purchasing agreements may likely prioritise high-need countries, placing New Zealand at the back of the queue. Manufacturing the vaccine here in Auckland will ensure that New Zealand, and other nearby countries, have access to a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine. “The hundreds of millions we’ve put into this strategy I think means we can be optimistic around where New Zealand is positioned.”

Read more about New Zealand’s Covid-19 vaccine strategy here.