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Vaccine manufacturing: challenges and solutions

Nature Biotechnology volume 24, pages 1377–1383 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The recent influenza vaccine shortages have provided a timely reminder of the tenuous nature of the world's vaccine supply and the potential for manufacturing issues to severely disrupt vital access to important vaccines. The application of new technologies to the discovery, assessment, development and production of vaccines has the potential to prevent such occurrences and enable the introduction of new vaccines. Gene-based vaccines, virus-like particles, plant-derived vaccines and novel adjuvants and delivery systems represent promising approaches to creating safer, more potent vaccines. As a consequence, more people will have faster access to more effective vaccines against a broader spectrum of infectious diseases. However, the increased cost of producing new vaccines and regulatory uncertainty remain challenges for vaccine manufacturers.

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Figure 1: Key components of effective vaccines.
Figure 2: Reverse vaccinology for identification of novel vaccine antigens.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, 4560 Horton St., Mailstop 4.3, Emeryville, 94608, California, USA

    Jeffrey B Ulmer

  2. Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, GmbH & Co. KG, Emil von Behring Strasse 76, Marburg, D-35041, Germany

    Ulrich Valley

  3. Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina No. 1, Siena, I-53100, Italy

    Rino Rappuoli

Authors
  1. Jeffrey B Ulmer
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  2. Ulrich Valley
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  3. Rino Rappuoli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey B Ulmer.

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The authors are employees of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.

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Ulmer, J., Valley, U. & Rappuoli, R. Vaccine manufacturing: challenges and solutions. Nat Biotechnol 24, 1377–1383 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1261

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