Results from the first human trial of a universal coronavirus vaccine show early promise for a new approach to vaccine design that could protect against a broad range of strains within major virus groups, including strains that have not emerged yet. These findings were published today in the Journal of Infection.
“Viruses like influenza, coronaviruses, and the Ebola group are evolving continuously and by the time vaccines are rolled out, they may be poorly matched. The current “reactive” vaccine system struggles to keep pace,” said Saul Faust, PhD, professor of pediatric immunity and infection at the University of Southampton and director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, who acted as chief investigator of the clinical trial.
Currently, vaccines contain antigens from specific viral strains that have been detected and predicted to be circulating in humans seasonally. However, because viruses mutate rapidly, the protection these vaccines offer can be limited by the time the vaccines are manufactured and distributed. In contrast, the PanSarbeco vaccine evaluated in this trial is designed to train the immune system to recognize and fend off a broad range of Sarbeco coronaviruses, including the SARS-CoV2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This new class of universal vaccines are future-proofed,” said Faust. “They not only protect against many variants simultaneously, but potentially against related viruses that haven’t yet emerged and spilt over to humans. If we can develop and clinically advance this new class of vaccines before a virus outbreak begins, millions of lives could be saved, lockdowns avoided, and the economy preserved.”
The technology behind this vaccine uses machine learning to design a super antigen that can provide lasting protection against a broad range of viruses within a group, such as the Ebola group or the Sarbeco coronavirus group, even as they continue to mutate and evolve. This approach originated at the University of Cambridge and is currently being developed by DIOSynVax (Digitally Immune Optimised Synthetic Vaccines), a spin-out company established in 2017.
“We’ve converted vaccine development from being reactive to being future proof. Our vaccines will continue to provide protection against viruses even as they mutate into new strains,” said Jonathan L. Heeney, DVM, PhD, professor of comparative pathology at the University of Cambridge and chief scientific officer of DIOSynVax. “We’ve overcome the problem of traditional vaccines, which have limited protection. It means we can escape the constant cycle of chasing the virus variants circulating in humans and updating the vaccines to try to catch up, like a dog chasing its tail.”
The PanSarbeco vaccine was tested in 39 healthy volunteers between 18 and 50 years old at NIHR research facilities at Southampton and Addenbrookes Hospital. The super antigen is compatible with most vaccine delivery systems; in this study it was delivered as a DNA vaccine using a needle-free delivery system in two doses administered 28 days apart. All four doses tested were well tolerated by the participants, with no significant safety concerns reported.
While participants developed immune responses to epitopes of sarbecovirus antigens conserved across strains, preliminary measurements of immunogenicity were modest in some participants potentially due to previous immunization with COVID-19 vaccines. Going forward, a larger Phase II trial will assess the vaccine’s ability to induce a strong, broadly protective immune response.
“The remarkable success of this AI-designed ‘super-antigen’ trial marks a pivotal leap forward in our ability to deliver broad, lasting viral protection,” said Marian Knight, MBChB, DPhil, professor of maternal and child population health at the University of Oxford and scientific director for NIHR Infrastructure.
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