Butantan has come a long way in the development of vaccines and adjuvants,
from basic research and application in pilot stages, to industrial scale-up,
involving multidisciplinary teams in national and international collaborations.
The application of biotechnological tools has contributed to advances in the
development of new antigens and adjuvants, which increases safety without
compromising the efficacy of new products.
The Dengue 1, 2, 3 and 4 vaccine (attenuated), result of a partnership between Butantan and the NIH (National Institutes of Health, USA) and the ATCC (American Type Culture Archive, USA), is made up of genetically attenuated viruses to protect against four types of the dengue virus. A clinical trial with 17 thousand volunteers performed in partnership with several national centers is now in its final stage of Anvisa registration.
A World Health Organization (WHO) strategy defined the development and production of a vaccine against influenza caused by the Avian Influenza A (H7N9) virus. Butantan was chosen as one of the laboratories to produce and supply this vaccine in the imminence of a H7N9 pandemic. The vaccine is now in Phase II clinical trials to prove its safety and efficacy.
The development of the tetravalent influenza vaccine, with two strains of virus A and two strains of virus B, follows the Brazilian Ministry of Health's strategy to increase the vaccine's efficacy in protecting against infection by the influenza virus. Butantan is preparing the new vaccine formulation, which should progressively replace the trivalent vaccine in vaccination campaigns.
A less reactogenic adsorbed Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine has been developed thanks to the reduction in the lipopolysaccharide content, a molecule present in the cell membrane of the Pertussis component of the vaccine. This process should allow the production of a vaccine with less risk of adverse reactions, without affecting its potency.
Developed from the lipopolysaccharide taken from the Low Pertussis vaccine, the BpMPLA adjuvant has been experimentally tested, demonstrating that it is capable of helping vaccines trigger an early, high and prolonged response. Thus, it is expected to reduce the required vaccine antigen concentration and, consequently, production costs.
Live attenuated vaccine developed by Valneva, which is transferring the technology to Butantan. Butantan is currently conducting the phase 3 clinical trial with adolescents in Brazil.
Instituto Butantan works to develop neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (humAbs), focusing on mAbs for tetanus, Zika virus, wild yellow fever virus and H7N9 influenza virus. The main benefit of using monoclonal antibodies is agility and precision in fighting diseases. They are also used to treat cancer, osteoporosis, Chron's disease and others.
Instituto Butantan has a Partnership for Productive Development (PDP) agreement with the pharmaceutical company Sandoz do Brasil for the production of adalimumab and etanercept, both drugs used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.
This medication is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Use in Brazil has already been approved by Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency).
This medication is recommended for adult and pediatric use over two years of age and weighing 30 kg. It is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, non-infectious uveitis, among other diseases. Use in Brazil is approved by Anvisa.