Meridian Life Granted SBIR II From Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

(RTTNews) - Meridian Life Science Awarded SBIR II By Centers For Disease Control And Prevention To Develop Rotavirus Vaccine

Meridian Life Science, Inc., (MLS) of Memphis, Tennessee, an unit of Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (VIVO), has been selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC to develop a process for manufacture of a rotavirus vaccine. Funding for this activity would be provided via. a Small Business Innovation Research or SBIR contract. Process development would concentrate on optimization of growth and yield of the virus in cell culture, developing and characterizing a column-based purification process followed by formulation, inactivation and filling of the vaccine.

This SBIR II, which follows an initial SBIR I awarded to MLS in 2013, would fund a 15-month research and development effort leading to scale up and manufacture of a rotavirus vaccine for use in clinical studies. MLS is a contract manufacturer offering production of vaccines and challenge stocks which employ current Good Manufacturing Practices as described in 21 CFR Parts 210 and 211.

According to the CDC's website, rotavirus causes gastroenteritis. The rotavirus disease causes severe watery diarrhea, often with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. In babies and young children, it can lead to dehydration.