WestVac Biopharma: Providing Full-Cycle Services for Vaccine and Biopharmaceutical R&D
Over the past five years since its establishment, WestVac Biopharma has leveraged the scientific expertise of the National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy at West China to successfully build multiple mature technology platforms, including insect baculovirus expression, E. coli expression, nucleic acid delivery, and novel adjuvant production. Driven by robust R&D capabilities, we have achieved industrialization and commercialization in the biopharmaceutical field. We now offer external services to assist biopharmaceutical companies in technological upgrades and product innovation:
- Insect (Rhabdovirus-free) Baculovirus Expression Platform
- E. coli Expression Platform
- Nucleic Acid Delivery Platform
- Novel Adjuvant Platform (e.g., MF59-like adjuvant, high-salt aluminum adjuvant; see Adjuvant Section) Insect Baculovirus
1）Expression Platform
Our company employs the internationally mainstream insect baculovirus production system, a well-validated technology globally. Successful commercialized products based on this technology include FluBlok® influenza vaccine from Sanofi (launched in 2013), Cervarix® cervical cancer vaccine from GSK (launched in 2009), and COVID-19 vaccine NUVAXOVID™ from Novavax (approved by the U.S. FDA in 2025), further demonstrating the safety and reliability of this approach. Leveraging this platform, WestVac Biopharma has advanced six recombinant protein vaccine candidates to clinical trials in China, with COVID-19 products already commercialized. Our pipeline products are expanding to international markets such as Japan and Mexico, having obtained "Foreign Manufacturer Certification for Pharmaceuticals—Biological Products License" from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and PIC/s certification in Mexico.
2）E. coli Expression Platform
This platform utilizes the E. coli expression system, renowned for its clear genetic background, high expression yields (5%–30% of total protein), short production cycles (weeks from gene construction to purification), and cost-effectiveness. It is the preferred global technology for recombinant protein drugs, vaccines, and industrial enzymes. In terms of technology validation, the E. coli expression system has successfully supported the commercialization of several internationally significant products, such as long-acting insulin (launched in 2000) from Novo Nordisk, recombinant zoster vaccine from Merck (launched in 2017), and recombinant coagulation factor VIII from Sanofi (approved in 2020), all achieving high-purity, high-activity protein expression through this technology. Currently, the company has established multiple innovative product pipelines, with its first recombinant protein vaccine soon to obtain clinical approval.
3）Nucleic Acid Delivery System
The company has progressively established a simple and efficient nucleic acid delivery system based on its novel tumor immunotherapy program. This system integrates multiple platforms including nucleic acid sequence optimization, strain construction and quality evaluation, large-scale plasmid fermentation, plasmid purification, large-scale liposome preparation, plasmid-lipid nanoparticle formulation preparation and quality evaluation. It has successfully incubated multiple projects, with the first product - a novel tumor immunotherapy agent - about to receive clinical approval. The related technologies have obtained patent authorization in China, the U.S., Japan and the EU.
4）Full-cycle Services for Vaccine and Biopharmaceutical R&D
The company has now established comprehensive service capabilities covering the entire biopharmaceutical R&D cycle, including full-chain technical support for target screening, process development, and quality control. The following services are available:
- Early-stage R&D support: Strain screening, antigen design, vector construction, cell line construction, virus seed construction, etc.
- Pilot process development: Fermentation, purification, formulation process parameter research and confirmation.
- Analytical testing: Quality studies (physicochemical properties, content/activity, sterility testing, bacterial endotoxin testing, abnormal toxicity testing, etc.), methodology validation, stability studies, etc.
- Clinical trial sample production: GMP-compliant production of Phase I-III clinical trial samples, supporting domestic and international clinical trial registration applications.
- Technology transfer.
- Clinical trial registration applications.
