CAP cells produce high virus titers upon influenza strain infection

CEVEC Pharmaceuticals, the developer of an extremely potent protein expression system based on human CAP cells, announced today that CAP cells produce high virus titers upon infection with influenza strains. The virus titers are as good as or even higher than with MDCK and Vero cells, host cells currently used for influenza vaccine production. The data were obtained in a collaborative project with Prof. Dr. Reichl at the Max-Planck-Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg, an internationally renowned expert for design and optimization of vaccine production processes in Germany.

CAP cells were infected with various human, equine and swine influenza strains and the virus titers compared to MDCK suspension cells.

"CAP cells could prove to be of significant advantage for the production of flu vaccines," said Dr. Rainer Lichtenberger, CEO of CEVEC. "The achieved virus yields give hope for a more efficient production than with the help of conventional egg-based technology."

"The infected CAP cells grow rapidly in serum-free and commercially available media. With an optimized medium even higher virus titers can be expected," added Wolfgang Kintzel, CEVEC's Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director.

"The human suspension cell line CAP has an enormous potential for establishment of state-of-the-art influenza vaccine manufacturing processes," said Prof. Reichl from the Max-Planck Insitute in Magdeburg.

CAP is the last independent human cell line for the production of vaccines and recombinant proteins.

CAP cells are a human immortalized cell line derived from primary human amniocytes that meet highest ethical standards. CAP cells grow in serum-free suspension cultures, allow stable protein production, and show human-like post-translational modifications and authentic human glycosylation patterns.

CAP® is a trademark of CEVEC Pharmaceuticals GmbH, all rights reserved,