Glide Technologies, the development company focused on solid dose formulations of therapeutics and vaccines, has entered a collaboration with German biotechnology company Cilian AG to develop a solid dose formulation of Cilian’s experimental recombinant influenza vaccine, CiFlu, for delivery using Glide’s patient-friendly SDI delivery device.

Initial results from the collaboration demonstrate extremely robust room-temperature stability for the solid dose CiFlu formulation, and preclinical potency testing is planned to confirm the potential for an enhanced immune response to the vaccine, before the year end.

CiFlu is produced in the unicellular organism Tetrahymena thermophila using recombinant DNA technology, which has the potential to increase the speed, reliability and quality of manufacture. Currently, influenza vaccines are reformulated each year due to changes in circulating viruses, and this process can take up to 28 weeks, leading to delays in the vaccination of vulnerable groups. In contrast, the CiFlu process has the potential to reduce production by at least ten weeks. These advantages are complemented by Glide’s solid dose formulation technology, which offers the potential of improved vaccine stability removing the need for costly cold-chain distribution and storage. In addition, delivery using Glide’s proprietary needle-free SDI device has the potential to enhance immune responses to the vaccine and increase immunisation rates amongst those with needle phobia.

Dr Mark Carnegie-Brown, Glide’s CEO commented, “This exciting programme builds on Glide’s earlier success stabilising anthrax vaccine antigens in solid dose formulations. Together with Cilian we have the opportunity to develop safe and effective influenza vaccines that can be manufactured rapidly and distributed efficiently without the need for a costly and cumbersome cold chain.”