Following success in monkeys, the U.S. Army is now conducting a clinical trial in humans for a pan-coronavirus vaccine.
The continuously mutating coronavirus has led the world scrambling for vaccines and boosters. Although COVID-19 vaccines protect against most variants, the emergence of Omicron has threatened vaccine efficacy. As a result, pharmaceutical companies have focused their attention on Omicron-specific vaccines. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) believes that frequent vaccine development is not a ‘sustainable’ way to handle the pandemic. Instead, the health body, along with several other experts, is pushing for a universal vaccine with the ability to protect against all future variants. Recently, the U.S. Army announced the completion of phase 1 clinical trial for its pan-coronavirus vaccine.
Our strategy has been to develop a ‘pan-coronavirus’ vaccine technology that could potentially offer safe, effective and durable protection against multiple coronavirus strains and species.
Dr. Kayvon Modjarra, co-inventor of the vaccine
The White House Chief Medical Adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci has also emphasized the importance of a universal vaccine.
SpFN COVID-19 Vaccine
The Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle (SpFN) COVID-19 vaccine first entered Phase 1 human trials in April of last year. Developed at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), the vaccine contains a multi-faced nanoparticle with 24 faces. Thus, allowing spike protein of various different COVID-19 variants to attach to the vaccine.
Prior to the phase 1 trial, researchers conducted an animal study in non-human primates. According to the results published in Science Translational Medicine, the vaccine demonstrated a potent antibody response against the current variants of concern. Results from the recently completed Phase 1 trial will likely become available soon.
Compared to current vaccines, SpFN has fewer storage and distribution restrictions. The vaccine can be stored at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit for up to six months. And remains viable for up to a month at room temperature. However, the vaccine will need to complete Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials before its safety and efficacy can be judged.
Reference:
M. Gordon Joyce et al, A SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccine elicits protective immune responses in nonhuman primates, Science Translational Medicine (2021). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abi5735