H7 VLP vaccine + Alhydrogel

The H7 VLP vaccine + Alhydrogel is a plant-derived virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidate developed by Medicago for protection against the H7N9 subtype of the influenza A virus. Produced using Medicago's proprietary transient expression system in *Nicotiana benthamiana* (tobacco plants), the vaccine consists of VLPs that display the hemagglutinin (HA) protein from the A/Hangzhou/1/2013 (H7N9) strain. This plant-based platform allowed for rapid development, with the vaccine being produced just 19 days after the HA gene sequence was obtained. The vaccine is formulated with Alhydrogel (aluminum hydroxide) as an adjuvant to enhance the immune response. It has been evaluated in Phase I randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials to assess safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity in healthy adults, following preclinical studies that demonstrated protective efficacy in mouse and ferret models.

Other names

Plant-made H7 VLP influenza vaccineMedicago H7N9 VLP vaccineH7 hemagglutinin-bearing VLP + Alhydrogel