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Rapid therapy development through Open nCoronavirus Vaccine Platform

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

A DNA vaccine platform against SARS-CoV-2

Accumulating genetic evidence on the new SARS-CoV-2 virus shows that its envelope and receptor binding domain only share 75 % homology with other human coronaviruses. This indicates that existing immunotherapies and vaccine candidates against other coronaviruses will probably not work against SARS-CoV-2. To generate and select the most potent candidates that protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection, the EU-funded OPENCORONA project will use a DNA vaccine platform. The most promising leads will initially be validated in animal models of coronavirus infection and then tested in a phase I clinical trial for safety in healthy volunteers.

Objective

The OPENCORONA consortia will test a therapy that protects against 2019-nCoV infection and/or disease in a phase I clinical trial in 24 months. The spread of the 2019-nCoV (or SARS-CoV-2) between the Jan 21 and Feb 11 has expanded alarmingly. There are >43000 confirmed cases of which >1000 has died. Around 7000 have a severe disease. The infection still mainly affect mainland China, although an increasing number of cases are seen outside China. The major question is what will happen when China halts its massive isolation campaign. No approved human coronavirus immunotherapy or vaccine exists. Thus, speed in therapy and vaccine development is critical. Genetic analysis shows that the 2019-nCoV envelope and receptor binding domain only has a 75% homology with other human coronaviruses. Thus, existing immunotherapies and vaccine candidates against other coronaviruses, such as SARS, will not be useful against 2019-nCoV. We will use the DNA vaccine platform as this is currently the most rapid and robust vaccine platform today. We will generate chimeric 2019-nCoV genes (Figure 1) and select the most potent DNA vaccine/immunotherapy candidate delivered by in vivo electroporation that protects against 2019-nCoV infection and/or disease in animal models and take this to phase I clinical testing. The partners in the consortium have done this before and all know-how for reliable development is present. KI and FoHM will develop vaccine candidates and infectious models, JLU will test candidates for over-activation of innate immunity, IGEA will provide a CE marked device for in vivo electroporation in humans. Cobra will produce plasmid according to GMP, Adlego will perform toxicological testing according to GLP, and Karolinska will write the (Investigator’s brochure) and IMPD (Investigational Medicinal Products Dossier), file with ethics comitty and EMA, and perform a phase I clinical trial of the immunotherapy/vaccine in healthy volunteers. All these tasks are within the expertise that the partners do every day. Thus, this is truly realistic.

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Call for proposal

H2020-SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020

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Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Net EU contribution
€ 423 067,89
Address
Nobels Vag 5
17177 Stockholm
Sweden

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Region
Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 423 067,89

Participants (6)

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Last update: 2 April 2024

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101003666

European Union, 2024