Oxford and Recipharm Expand Malaria Vaccine Partnership, Boosting Manufacturing Capabilities
The University of Oxford and Swedish contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Recipharm have announced an expansion of their long-standing collaboration in malaria vaccine development. This partnership, which began in 2016, has now been broadened to encompass additional manufacturing responsibilities for two promising blood-stage malaria vaccine candidates.
Enhanced Production for Ongoing Clinical Trials
Recipharm will take on expanded manufacturing duties for Oxford's R78C and RH5.1 vaccine candidates, both currently undergoing phase 1/2 clinical trials. For R78C, Recipharm will now provide fill-finish services in addition to its existing role in drug substance and drug product production. This increase in capacity is aimed at meeting the growing demand for vials required in ongoing trials.
In a significant shift, Recipharm will assume full production responsibilities for the RH5.1 candidate, taking over from another contract manufacturer. This comprehensive role will cover all aspects of the vaccine's production process.
Greg Behar, CEO of Recipharm, emphasized the company's strengths, stating, "Our ability to deliver drug substance and drug product for larger scales under GMP conditions makes us a strong partner for accelerating vaccine candidates from lab to clinic."
Recipharm's Strategic Moves in a Changing CDMO Landscape
The expanded partnership comes at a time of transformation for Recipharm. Following a 30% revenue surge in 2022, largely attributed to its collaboration with Moderna on COVID-19 vaccine production, the company has been actively reshaping its portfolio through a mix of acquisitions and divestitures.
In a notable move last year, Recipharm sold seven manufacturing and development facilities, including five in Sweden, to U.S. private equity firm Blue Wolf Capital. This divestment reflects the company's response to the evolving dynamics of the CDMO industry.
Oxford's Growing Prominence in Malaria Vaccine Development
The University of Oxford has established itself as a leader in malaria vaccine research. In 2023, Oxford's R21/Matrix-M vaccine became only the second malaria vaccine to receive World Health Organization (WHO) endorsement for use in children, following GSK's Mosquirix.
The development of effective malaria vaccines has been a challenging endeavor, with GSK's Mosquirix taking over three decades to reach the market. The urgency of this work is underscored by WHO statistics, which report 249 million malaria cases worldwide in 2022, resulting in 608,000 deaths. In Africa, children under five accounted for 76% of malaria fatalities.
As Oxford and Recipharm strengthen their partnership, the pharmaceutical industry watches closely, hoping for breakthroughs in the ongoing battle against one of the world's most persistent infectious diseases.
References
- Oxford taps CDMO Recipharm to handle additional manufacturing work in malaria vaccine collab
After combining on the development of five malaria vaccine candidates since 2016, Swedish CDMO Recipharm and the University of Oxford have expanded their collaboration to include additional manufacturing duties.
Explore Further
What are the efficacy and safety results so far from the phase 1/2 clinical trials of Oxford's R78C and RH5.1 malaria vaccine candidates?
What impact did the collaboration with Moderna on COVID-19 vaccine production have on Recipharm's capabilities and strategies in the CDMO industry?
How does Oxford's malaria vaccine R21/Matrix-M compare to GSK's Mosquirix in terms of efficacy and target population?
What are the key challenges Recipharm faces in producing the RH5.1 malaria vaccine candidate under GMP conditions?
What advancements and milestones have been achieved by the University of Oxford in malaria vaccine research since their previous collaboration with Recipharm began in 2016?