SciFocus/Dec 27, 2024 — Breaking Ground in Vaccine Innovation
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a Phase 1 trial to test the safety and efficacy of a nasal COVID-19 vaccine. Designed by NIH scientists, this vaccine may offer enhanced protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants by targeting mucosal immunity. The trial, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Project NextGen, could mark a major advancement in reducing infections and transmission.
“With the continual emergence of new virus variants, there is a critical need to develop next-generation COVID-19 vaccines, including nasal vaccines, that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 infections and transmission”
Key Highlights
- Trial Overview:
- Conducted at Baylor College of Medicine, Emory University, and NYU Long Island.
- Enrolling 60 adults aged 18-64 with prior mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
- Participants divided into three groups, receiving progressively higher doses of the vaccine via nasal spray.
- Innovative Vaccine Design:
- The vaccine, MPV/S-2P, uses murine pneumonia virus (MPV) as a vector to deliver a stabilized version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
- MPV targets epithelial cells in the respiratory tract, initiating robust local and systemic immune responses.
- Mucosal Immunity Focus:
- Pre-clinical studies showed strong immune responses in respiratory tract mucosal tissues.
- Mucosal immunity may outperform systemic immunity in controlling respiratory virus replication.
- Safety and Efficacy:
- Pre-clinical trials in non-human primates demonstrated safety and robust immune responses.
- Human trial will assess immune response and vaccine tolerability over a year.
- Part of Project NextGen:
- A collaborative effort to develop innovative vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19.
- This trial is the first under the NIAID initiative.
Implications for COVID-19 Management
This nasal vaccine could enhance global COVID-19 prevention strategies by addressing transmission, a limitation of current vaccines. Success in Phase 1 could accelerate development and deployment under Project NextGen.
References
- NIH News Release: NIH-Sponsored Trial of Nasal COVID-19 Vaccine Opens
- Clinical Trial Identifier: NCT06441968
