Covid variants, first CureVac-Gsk vaccine data “encouraged”

The first data of the innovative anti-Covid vaccine CureVac-Gsk are “encouraging”. These are currently preclinical data, obtained on macaques, but show for “the second generation mRna Covid vaccine candidate, CV2CoV”, “evidence of strongly improved immune responses” compared to the first generation of CureVac and better protection. The neutralizing ability of the induced antibodies was tested against multiple variants, including Beta, Delta and Lambda, the ones that most worried experts in relation to vaccines. The data are “very encouraging” for Rino Rappuoli, Chief Scientist and head of research and development at Gsk Vaccines. “The strong immune response and protection” observed in the “preclinical tests represent an important milestone for the further development” of this second generation, the scientist said in a statement. “MRna technology is a key strategic priority for us – added Rappuoli – and we are investing significantly in a series of programs focused on collaboration with CureVac”. The study conducted on macaques in collaboration with Dan Barouch, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, evaluated specimens vaccinated with the first generation vaccine (CVnCoV) or with the second generation one. With the latter, improved activation of innate and adaptive immune responses was achieved, resulting in the onset of a faster response, higher antibody titers, and stronger activation of memory B and T cells than to the first generation candidate. A greater antibody neutralization capacity was also observed towards all selected variants. The study data is available on ‘bioRxiv’ in a preprinted version. “In this animal model, CV2CoV has been shown to induce broad antibody and cellular immune responses very similar to the magnitude of immune responses observed after Sars-CoV-2 infection. “, said Igor Splawski, Chief Scientific Officer of CureVac. “The current study shows that the immune responses and protection produced by our second-generation candidate, based on our mRNA technology with targeted optimizations, have substantially improved in non-human primates, both against the original Sars-CoV-2 virus and against. the Beta and Delta concern variants and the Lambda interest variant. ” When are human tests? Following the current preclinical development of CV2CoV, this second-generation mRna-based vaccine candidate is expected to have “a Phase 1 clinical trial commencing in the fourth quarter of 2021,” the two companies report.