Opportunity Preview

Broad-spectrum mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine

Technology

Broad spectrum vaccine encapsulated by a lipid nanoparticle, stimulating the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

Background

  • Product Type: Broad spectrum SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine encapsulated by a proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) with potential as a combination vaccine with other viral diseases.
  • Indication: COVID-19 caused by ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and variants; intramuscular administration.
  • Target/Mechanism of Action: LNP-encapsulated mRNA encoding a membrane-anchored SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) that stimulates the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against new variants.

Technology Overview

SARS-CoV-2 immune imprinting - the tendency for a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant to stimulate memory B cells to produce antibodies against a previously encountered viral (or vaccine) strain - can lead to a poorer ability to fight SARS-CoV-2 variants such as omicron and variants thereof (e.g. XBB1.5). In today’s heavily-vaccinated or previously-infected population, immune imprinting means SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific vaccine effectiveness is waning1.

Monash University have developed a novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccine encoding a membrane-anchored SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) that induces broad-spectrum protection against past and present SARS-CoV-2 variants.2,3

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Further Details:

  1. Wang et al (2023), The Lancet Infec Dis; 23:527-528.
  2. Wassiti et al (2024), Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev; vol 32:101380.
  3. Nolan et al (2023), EBioMedicine; vol 98:104878. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05272605.

Stage of Development

Phase 2 ready.

Future: Phase 2 clinical trial; combination vaccine with other respiratory viruses.

Benefits

  • A safe and effective low-dose vaccine, permitting multivalent vaccines against multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains or multiple viruses. No safety concerns were observed in humans;
  • Readily adaptable to address novel variants that arise;
  • LNP formulation with enhanced delivery to lymphoid tissue, resulting in a strong immune response;
  • Efficacious at stimulating antibody-mediated and T cell immunity.

Applications

Intramuscular or intravenous vaccines for COVID-19 caused by ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and variants.