Webinar: Adjuvanted Mucosal Subunit Vaccine for Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Infection

Register to attend a free NCI webinar. Attendees will learn about a new adjuvanted subunit mucosal Covid-19 vaccine. Study results show that this new vaccine prevents SARS-CoV-2 transmission and infection. Most SARS-CoV-2 vaccines focus on delivering immunization through an intramuscular injection. This new technology combines an initial intramuscular injection with subsequent intranasal boost administration of a novel, molecular adjuvant nanoparticle formulation.

The Presenter Jay Berzofsky, M.D., Ph.D. Chief, Vaccine Branch Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute

About the Featured Technology

This vaccine technology includes a unique nanoparticle formulation comprised of a SARS-Cov-2 spike protein antigen combined with TLR agonists (CpG & Poly I:C and cytokine IL-15) as adjuvants, encapsulated in PLGA or DOTAP nanoparticles.

In vivo study results:

• In vaccinated macaques, induces robust humoral and cellular immunity as well as trained innate immunity.
• Following SARS-CoV-2 intranasal and intratracheal exposure, vaccinated macaques did not show detectable subgenomic RNA in either of their upper or lower respiratory tracts compared to naïve controls.
• Vaccinated macaques more effectively cleared input virus in the nasal mucosa from which it could be transmitted to others.
• Transmission studies also show that this vaccine is effective at preventing transmission from vaccinated infected hamsters to naïve hamsters co-housed with them.

These results demonstrate that this mucosal vaccine can protect against respiratory SARS-CoV-2 exposure and may enhance the protective effect of systemic vaccines, making it a good candidate for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Its ability to prevent transmission to individuals without immunity addresses an important public health need–something that other vaccine modalities have not demonstrated.

Competitive Advantages

• Stimulates both systemic and mucosal immunity; induces both humoral and cellular immunity, as well as trained innate immunity.
• Leads to more effective virus clearance from the upper respiratory tract from which it could spread.
• Stimulates sustained immune response.
• Protects against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
• Prevents or reduces onward transmission to others, addressing an important public health need.
• Intranasal administration avoids painful injection.
• Notable improvement for manufacturing yield and cost, ease of administration, and distribution as compared to current candidates.

Commercial Applications:

• Adjuvanted mucosal subunit vaccines (as single agents)
• Vaccine composition(s)
• Co-administration to enhance the effect of systemic immunization.