Rostec is to Enter Top Five World Leaders in Production of the Influenza Vaccines Main Component

Rostec is to Enter Top Five World Leaders in Production of the Influenza Vaccines Main Component

Rostec will triple the production of influenza antigens at the sites of pharmaceutical holding Natsimbio by 2022. The implementation of these plans will enable the State Corporation to become one of the five largest manufacturers of the main component of influenza vaccines, hemagglutinin, in the world.

Within the next three years, the Natsimbio holding will increase the annual production of highly purified domestic antigens from 1.6 to 5 kg. Such a quantity is sufficient enough to multiply production volumes and cover the demand for vaccines both domestically and in the markets of Kazakhstan and Belarus. The technology of inactivation of the virus by removing its genome is used in the manufacture of antigen.

“The projected increase in antigen production is necessary to solve two strategic problems. First, a general increase in the production of influenza vaccines amid growing global demand. Secondly, the expansion of the share of production of tetravalent vaccines, the production of which requires more antigen”, explained the adviser on scientific activities of Natsimbio Igor Nikitin.

The Natsimbio portfolio has three pharmaceutical drugs for the prevention of influenza at present – the most popular vaccine in Russia, Sovigripp, which is produced by NPO Mikrogen, as well as the split vaccines Ultrix and Ultrix Quadri which were developed by the Fort LLC. Natsimbio will supply at least 63 million doses of vaccines for the needs of the healthcare system this year.