Accelerating Vaccine Development Through Technology Platforms

Industry and regulatory authorities speed of response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis demonstrated the capability to develop new therapeutics in the face of a dire situation. The success was dependent on having novel development platforms that had been previously tested and knowledge of related viruses along with molecular characterization capabilities, as well as the dedicated focus on speedy development with all the safety and efficacy measures normally expected of quality therapeutic products. Preparedness for the future requires that we continue to invest in advanced development platforms, molecular understanding of target molecules, the tools to investigate structural anomalies, awareness of new threats and mechanism of action, and continuing to fine-tune the development process and supply chain. Vaccine development is frequently considered for viral diseases. However, vaccine platforms have broader applications including cancer therapies and other diseases where immune stimulation can play a crucial role in disease prevention and targeted therapy. This session will continue the discussion of improvements to advance our capabilities in vaccine development.

Session Speakers:
17:15 - 17:40
From Anton to Omicron and Beyond: Towards an mRNA Vaccines Platform
V Ulrich Blaschke, BioNTech

17:40 - 18:05
V Developing Vaccines at Pandemic Speed
Kay Hunsberger, Merck & Co., Inc.

18:05 - 18:30
V HTS and the Future of Vaccine Analytics
Siemon Ng, Sanofi Pasteur

18:30 - 18:45
Discussion – Questions and Answers