Rappuoli led Chiron Corporation's development of adjuvanted influenza vaccines, MENJUGATE(R) conjugate vaccine against meningococcal-C disease and the first recombinant bacterial vaccine against pertussis. Currently,[when?] Rappuoli is actively involved in the research and development of further vaccines against meningococcal disease and avian and pandemic influenza.
Rappuoli joined Chiron as head of European vaccines research in 1992 with the acquisition of Italian vaccines company Sclavo SpA, where he served as head of research and development. Rappuoli, was previously the global head of vaccines research for Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics (Siena, Italy)[6] Since 2015, Dr. Rappuoli serves as the chief scientist and head of external R&D at the vaccines division of GlaxoSmithKline and is based in Siena, Italy.[7]
During his career, he has introduced several novel scientific concepts: genetic detoxification in 1987;[13]cellular microbiology in 1996;[14] reverse vaccinology in 2000;[15]pan-genome in 2005.[3][16]
^Bröker, Michael; Costantino, Paolo; DeTora, Lisa; McIntosh, E. David; Rappuoli, Rino (2011). "Biochemical and biological characteristics of cross-reacting material 197 (CRM197), a non-toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin: Use as a conjugation protein in vaccines and other potential clinical applications". Biologicals. 39 (4): 195–204. doi:10.1016/j.biologicals.2011.05.004. PMID21715186.
^O'Hagan, Derek T; Ott, Gary S; Nest, Gary Van; Rappuoli, Rino; Giudice, Giuseppe Del (2014). "The history of MF59® adjuvant: a phoenix that arose from the ashes". Expert Review of Vaccines. 12 (1): 13–30. doi:10.1586/erv.12.140. PMID23256736. S2CID7842318.
^O'Hagan, Derek T; Rappuoli, Rino; De Gregorio, Ennio; Tsai, Theodore; Del Giudice, Giuseppe (2014). "MF59 adjuvant: the best insurance against influenza strain diversity". Expert Review of Vaccines. 10 (4): 447–462. doi:10.1586/erv.11.23. PMID21506643. S2CID20377287.