Multivalent vaccines that could improve SARS-CoV-2 immunity while also preventing infections by other viruses, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses, constitute an urgent public health need. Currently approved vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are based solely on the spike protein, which provides limited immunity against variations in spike.
Rnaimmune Inc., a nonwholly owned subsidiary of Sirnaomics Ltd., has received clearance from the FDA for its IND application to conduct a phase I trial for RV-1730, a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster candidate.
A live-attenuated vaccine targeting SARS-CoV-2 infection, which can be administered through the nose, has shown promise in preclinical animal studies carried out by researchers in Berlin. In an article published April 3, 2023, in Nature Microbiology, the authors reported that the COVID-19 vaccine candidate – sCPD9 – triggered the most robust immune response in a hamster model when compared with Biontech/Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 and Ad2-Spike.
Modex Therapeutics Inc., an Opko Health Inc. company, has entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Merck & Co. Inc., for the development of MDX-2201, Modex's preclinical nanoparticle vaccine candidate targeting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Researchers from PDS Biotechnology Corp. and affiliated organizations have detailed the development and preclinical evaluation of recombinant protein vaccines formulated with enantio-specific cationic lipid R-DOTAP.
Greenlight Biosciences Holdings PBC has received regulatory approval from the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) to start a first-in-human phase I/II trial of its mRNA vaccine candidate against COVID-19, GLB-COV2-043, as a booster for previously vaccinated individuals.
Researchers from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine have presented preclinical results on a three-component vaccine, MPLA-Tn-KRN7000, as a tumor immunotherapeutic.