The first human clinical trial of a universal Sarbeco coronavirus vaccine, developed by the University of Cambridge and spin-out DIOSynVax (DVX) Ltd, has shown the vaccine is safe with no significant side-effects.
The trial involved 39 healthy volunteers at NIHR Clinical Research Facilities in Southampton and Cambridge, sponsored by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Results are published in the Journal of Infection.
The vaccine uses an AI-designed “super-antigen” targeting conserved features across the Sarbeco coronavirus family. This is the first time a vaccine whose active component was designed entirely by computer simulations has been tested in humans.
The vaccine triggered immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, SARS, and related bat viruses. It was administered as a DNA vaccine through a needle-free microfluidic jet delivery method.
Professor Jonathan Heeney: “We’ve converted vaccine development from being reactive to being future proof.”