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vaccines

Vaccination is one of the most important measures for disease prevention. In this sense, Butantan contributes to the Brazilian public health with the production of several vaccines against viruses and bacteria, generating products of high quality, safety and efficacy.

There are seven types of vaccines supplied to the Ministry of Health, whose current production capacity is the result of in-house development of processes to obtain vaccine antigens, in addition to technology transfer processes and PDPs (Partnerships for Productive Development) between Butantan and external laboratories.

Trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (fragmented and inactivated)

Butantan’s Influenza vaccine protects against three types of Influenza virus. Its composition changes annually due to the high mutation rate of the virus. It is produced by virus inoculation into embryonated chicken eggs. After an incubation period, the allantoic fluid that surrounds the embryo is collected, centrifuged, concentrated, fragmented and inactivated, resulting in a suspension of the monovalent vaccine. Mixing the suspensions of each monovalent thus results in the trivalent vaccine.

Adsorbed hepatitis A vaccine (inactivated)

The adsorbed hepatitis A vaccine (inactivated) is used to prevent infection caused by the hep A virus. It is produced from a hep A virus, propagated in human cell culture, then purified and inactivated.

Adsorbed hepatitis B vaccine (recombinant)

The adsorbed hepatitis B vaccine (recombinant) is used to prevent infection caused by the hep B virus, being produced from recombinant yeast Pichia angusta (H.polymorpha) that express the surface antigen of the hep B virus. The Butantan vaccine is the only recombinant vaccine for use fully developed and produced in Brazil.

Human papillomavirus vaccine types 6, 11, 16 and 18 (recombinant)

The human papillomavirus vaccine types 6, 11, 16 and 18 (recombinant) is used to prevent infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), responsible for the occurrence of genital cancer in both women and men. The viral proteins of HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 are produced separately in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts, to be formulated in a single quadrivalent dose.

Rabies vaccine (inactivated)

The rabies vaccine is used to prevent human rabies when there is a need to protect individuals exposed to the virus as a result of contact with the saliva of transmitting animals or as prevention in people with occupational exposure to the risk of virus infection. The Butantan vaccine is produced in a cell line (VERO cells), without the use of components of animal origin, and has a high degree of purity and an efficient immune response.

DTP, DT and Td vaccine

For the production of the triple bacterial vaccine (DTP), the whole cell vaccine of Bordetella pertussis, the agent that causes pertussis, is manufactured separately, combined with tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, resulting from the fermentation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Clostridium tetani bacteria to obtain the toxins and subsequent detoxification.

The composition of tetanus toxoid with diphtheria toxoid generates to the dual adult (dT) vaccine and the dual infant (DT) vaccine.

DTaP vaccine

Recommended for children under seven years of age who have had adverse events that contraindicate another dose of whole-cell DTP vaccine, and in pregnant women as a booster or complementation of the dual adult vaccine regimen (diphtheria and tetanus), to reduce the mortality of whooping cough in newborns. This vaccine is made up of highly purified parts of Bordetella pertussis combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids.

Science And Innovation

Antitoxins and antivenoms

For over a century, Butantan has produced different types of serum against toxins from venomous animals and microorganisms. Its production involves immunizing horses with antigens produced from venoms, toxins or viruses, obtaining different types of plasma, which are subjected to industrial purification and formulation, resulting in products of high quality, safety and efficacy.

Butantan antitoxins and antivenoms are specific immunoglobulin fractions purified, presented in liquid form, in vials of 5, 10 or 20 milliliters (depending on the type) and which must be kept in a refrigerator until use.

Bothropic antivenom (pentavalent)

Indicated in the treatment of envenomation by snakes of the Bothrops genus (jararaca, jararacuçu, urutu, surucucu, comboia). Doses vary according to severity

Bothropic (pentavalent) and lachetic antivenom

Indicated in the treatment of envenomation by snakes of the Bothrops genus (jararaca, jararacuçu, urutu, surucucu, comboia), or in accidents by Lachesis (surucucu-pico-de-jaca), found mainly in the Amazon.

Crotalic antivenom

Indicated in the treatment of envenomation by snakes of the Crotalus genus (rattlesnake). Doses vary according to severity.

Bothropic (pentavalent) and crotalic antivenom

Indicated in the treatment of envenomation by snakes of the Bothrops genus (jararaca, jararacuçu, urutu, surucucu, comboia) or in accidents by Crotalus (rattlesnake).

Elapid antivenom

Indicated in the treatment of envenomation by snakes of the Micrurus genus (genuine coral snakes).

Scorpion antivenom

Indicated in the treatment of envenomation by scorpions of the Tityus genus (yellow, brown or black scorpions), when recommended.

Arachnid antivenom (Loxosceles, Phoneutria and Tityus)

Indicated in the treatment of envenomation by scorpions of the Tityus genus (yellow, brown or black scorpions), or spiders of the Phoneutria genus (Brazilian wandering/armed spider) or Loxosceles (brown spider).

Lonomia antivenom

Indicated in the treatment of envenomation by caterpillars of the Lonomia genus (taturana, oruga, tapuru), when recommended.

Diphtheria antitoxin

Indicated to neutralize the toxin of the bacterium Clostridium diphtheriae, present in the bloodstream, according to the type and severity of the disease.

Tetanus antitoxin

Indicated for the prevention or treatment of accidental or neonatal tetanus, depending on the type and conditions of the wound, as well as the condition of previous tetanus vaccination.

AB Botulinum antitoxin

Indicated to neutralize the toxin of the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, which causes botulism (link to electronic package insert).

Rabies antitoxin

Indicated for the prophylaxis of human rabies after exposure to the rabies virus, depending on the nature of the exposure and the conditions of the rabid animal attack (link in electronic package insert).