Ever since Edward Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine in 1796, vaccines have played a transformative role in protecting human health. Today, in the face of rapidly evolving pathogens, literally every human being has a stake in humanity’s ability to rapidly develop, manufacture and distribute safe, effective vaccines. 

At VILS, we understand that the faster your discoveries can be applied, the faster they can start improving – and in some cases saving – people’s lives. On the other hand, your business needs may lead you to delay investments until more solid scientific data are available, followed by an accelerated path to operational readiness. Either way, VILS is known for delivering solutions quickly, so our clients can launch them when the timing is right. 

The scramble to keep up with emerging threats 

The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to come out of nowhere, shocking the world and impacted strategies to rapidly develop and distribute vaccines for future pandemics. It will not be the last such shock. Future pandemics are all but inevitable given rapidly evolving pathogens and exposure to new ones, as the expanding human footprint on this planet brings people in contact with new threats. 

Meanwhile, well-known pathogens like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, along with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, are urgent targets for new vaccine development as they develop resistance to previously effective treatments. 

Game-changers: Speed and process knowledge 

Vaccine development is evolving as fast as it can in response to these developments. However, a lack of access to both process development expertise and GMP manufacturing facilities are serious obstacles. The world lacks sufficient capacity to quickly and cost-effectively produce enough quality vaccines for clinical trials and beyond. 

That is why VILS’ speed and process knowledge can be a game-changer for new and old threats to human health. We share your passion for your work because it matters to the health of all of us and our grandchildren. 

Two new technologies are showing great promise: mRNA and viral vectors. VILS has played a key role in accelerating both. VILS startled the scientific world with the delivery of the world’s first GMP mRNA facility in 2016 , three years before Covid-19 emerged. 

In 2017, we built the world’s first GMP viral vector facility. In 2020, we built a large-scale viral vector facility, a new, 8,000 m2 viral vector and biologicals campus for Exothera, a leading CDMO. 

Focus on the essential 

In both cases, VILS’ success – and speed – were due in part to our focus on the essential. This way of working leads to more efficient facilities that are faster to build. Another factor is our deep process knowledge, which allows us to guide clients through the complexities of building facilities for cutting-edge technologies. This deep process knowledge also enables facilities we design and build to gain regulatory approval even in the face of complex and evolving regulatory environments. 

In future, based on the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, mRNA and viral vector vaccines are being explored for a variety of applications. These include infectious diseases like influenza and non-communicable diseases such as cancer. 

Viral vector platforms are also being adapted for other diseases, such as HIV, malaria, and cancer. Self-amplifying RNA (SAM) and next-generation platforms are also being integrated with viral vectors to improve efficacy and reduce production costs. 

As these technologies grow in importance, we will be applying our focus on the essential and our deep process knowledge to maximize the impact of these technologies – and the cutting-edge therapies they enable – on human health.