Laura Ferrer is the Director of Research and Development in Human Health at HIPRA, one of LWNVIVAT partners. In this interview, she shares more about HIPRA’s role in the project and the work they are carrying out.
What is your role in the LWNVIVAT project?
At HIPRA, we collaborate with different scientific teams within the consortium on the development and preclinical evaluation of vaccine candidates against the West Nile virus (WNV). We contribute our expertise in vaccine design and production, as well as in the development of strategies based on the recombinant protein platform.
We also participate in defining the regulatory strategy, manufacturing and scalability aspects, and in supporting LWNVIVAT communications team, ensuring that the project and the future vaccine have the greatest potential to translate into a real and applicable public health solution.
What are the most recent results you have obtained?
The LWNVIVAT project is currently in the research phase. Different vaccine candidates based on the viral E protein have been designed, with the aim of achieving the highest possible efficacy and safety. These candidates are being produced at small scale and characterized, and immunogenicity studies in animal models will begin shortly.
What are the next steps for the project?
Developing a vaccine capable of addressing West Nile Virus, as well as developing monoclonal antibodies that could function as therapeutics, is our main priority. However, the next steps in the project include completing the immunogenicity evaluation of the vaccine candidates and their formulations with different adjuvants, refining the optimal strategy against the virus.
Additionally, efficacy testing in a mouse model is planned in order to obtain more comprehensive information about the protective potential of the vaccine proposed to advance to the preclinical phase.
In parallel, work will continue on defining production processes in accordance with regulatory requirements and on activities aimed at paving the way for potential clinical development. All these activities are carried out jointly and in coordination among the different project partners to ensure scientific credibility on the one hand, and long-term consolidation on the other.
Why do you consider the development of a vaccine against West Nile virus to be important?
The development of a vaccine against West Nile virus is a public health priority for several reasons. This virus, transmitted by mosquitoes through bites, is one of the pathogens with the greatest potential for spread due to climate change, and it can cause disease of varying severity. Although most West Nile virus infections are asymptomatic (around 80%), approximately 1% may lead to central nervous system involvement with serious consequences, especially in adults over 65 years of age and in immunocompromised individuals.
Currently, there is neither an approved treatment nor a vaccine for human use, which underscores the importance of addressing this virus. For this reason, an effective and safe vaccine candidate would not only help prevent cases and outbreaks, but would also strengthen preparedness against related emerging threats.
