Novavax is focused on creating novel, highly potent recombinant vaccines produced via cell culture. The company has developed three proprietary technology platforms–Virus-Like Particles and Novasome® paucilamellar vesicles.
Virus-Like Particles
Using its proprietary virus-like particle (VLP) technology, Novavax scientists build a structure similar to a virus except for the genetic material required for viral replication, without the use of an adjuvant. Once injected into the body, VLPs attach to cells and trigger an immune response sufficient enough to protect a person, if they are exposed to the virus.
VLPs may have a number of advantages over traditional vaccines. Because they more closely match an individual viral strain, VLPs can trigger a more robust immune response. In addition, live virus is not needed to produce a VLP vaccine. Rather, Novavax scientists need only the genetic sequence of a virus to quickly create a VLP vaccine against it. Because VLPs do not contain viral nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), they cannot replicate, and therefore present no threat of infection to a person being vaccinated.