The biotechnology company HIPRA, a member of Catalonia.health, is part of a European consortium led by the Medical University of Vienna aimed at developing a next-generation intranasal influenza vaccine. The project seeks to provide broader and longer-lasting protection against both seasonal strains and those with pandemic potential, and it aspires to be selected under the European Commission’s EU4Health programme.
Within the framework of the project, HIPRA contributes its industrial leadership and R&D expertise, taking on key responsibilities such as large-scale production, regulatory processes, future commercialisation of the vaccine, and the co-leadership of process development and analytical activities. This contribution will help ensure a robust and efficient transition from research to industrial production.
The candidate vaccine is based on a strategy that targets one of the most conserved surface proteins of the influenza virus and is designed to stimulate a strong local immune response in the respiratory mucosa. Intranasal administration may facilitate the work of healthcare professionals, increase vaccine acceptance, and help reduce virus transmission.
The project aligns with the European Union’s strategic objectives in health security and preparedness for future pandemics, promoting European industrial production and strengthening strategic autonomy in public health. The consortium, which brings together academic institutions, leading research centres and vaccine manufacturers, is currently awaiting the decision of the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).
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