The mutual agreement between Butantan and DHVI brings together two world leaders in vaccine research and production with the mission to improve global health
The Butantan Institute, the Butantan Foundation, and the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI), approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate in the research and clinical development of immunobiologicals. The partnership involves discussion and possible joint actions in relation to vaccines and immunobiological products, especially related to COVID-19, HIV, influenza, messenger RNA platforms and preparation for new pandemics.
Through the partnership, both institutions will discuss a possible scope of work, activities, responsibilities, and other aspects considering joint vaccine research, disease surveillance and specimen collection, manufacturing and clinical trial arrangements. Additionally, Butantan and DHVI intend to establish a Research and Co-Development Program for the development of vaccines and strategies for pandemic preparedness.
“This MOU allows DHVI to do what we do best as a unique interdisciplinary research institute while we work in collaboration with other world-renowned scientists and their programs to develop novel vaccines and therapeutics,” DHVI’s Chief Operating Officer Thomas Denny said.
“Butantan is always seeking partnerships to increase its capacity of research and vaccine development. This agreement with DHVI brings together two world leaders in vaccine research and production with the mission to improve global health,” Butantan Institute’s Director Esper Kallás said.
Butantan has 123 years of history and works to prevent diseases like COVID-19, influenza, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, chikungunya, pertussis, dengue, HPV and rabies. It exports sera and vaccines for over 10 countries in Latin America and Europe, and produces 90 million doses of flu vaccine annually that are distributed all over Brazil in a national immunization campaign. Butantan acts in partnership with several universities and entities from all over the world, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
DHVI comprises an interdisciplinary interdepartmental research institute within Duke University. The organization was formed in 1990 to support cross-functional efforts across Duke to develop vaccines and therapeutics for HIV and other emerging infections. DHVI’s mission is to develop vaccines and therapeutics against diseases of global importance while training the next generation of scientists.