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Effective and Affordable Flu Vaccines for the World

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Next-generation flu vaccines

Influenza affects millions of people, with 500 000 casualties annually. Current vaccine effectivity is around 40 %, meaning that 60 % of those vaccinated are not sufficiently protected. The EU-funded INDIGO project involves public and private R&D organisations in the EU, India and United States for the development of two influenza vaccine concepts with the goal to achieve < 10 % instead of 60 % non-responders, lower costs and better accessibility. The first concept combines a low dose of a commercial, inactivated, seasonal flu vaccine with a novel adjuvant, aiming to obtain proof-of-concept in phase I and IIa trials within 5 years. The second concept is based on innovations including a recombinant viral hemagglutinin with increased immunogenicity, a potent adjuvant and needle-free delivery by intradermal patches. The plans are realistic with a high probability to deliver next-generation flu vaccines.

Objective

Despite the availability of flu vaccines for decades, influenza is still an important disease in both developing and developed countries with 500,000 casualties annually and many more people affected. From a global health perspective, the lack of effectivity, availability, affordability and accessibility of flu vaccines significantly limits our ability to respond to the seasonal flu every year and in the event of a pandemic. Currently, a low vaccine effectivity of 40% implies that 60% of vaccinated people are not sufficiently protected, with low confidence further contributing to limited uptake/immunization. In this project, public and private R&D organizations in India, EU and US collaborate on the development of two novel influenza vaccine concepts that meet the requirements of global vaccination, aiming to achieve <10% instead of 60% non-responders, lower costs, and better accessibility.
The first approach combines a low dose of a commercial, inactivated, seasonal flu vaccine with a novel, potent adjuvant, and will deliver proof-of-concept in Phase I and IIa trials within 5 years.
The second approach builds on three innovations: 1) a novel recombinant HA with increased immunogenicity, 2) a potent adjuvant, and 3) an easy, needle-free delivery by intradermal patches. Contra-productive parts of HA will be removed to increase the immunogenicity of neutralizing epitopes. The adjuvant further stimulates protective immunity and immunological memory. The use of intradermal patches opens possibilities for self-administration, which will improve vaccine uptake in developing as well as developed countries. With proven nonclinical immunogenicity and safety, we will embark on clinical development of this concept after completion of the project.
These plans differ in complexity and timelines but are realistic with chances to deliver next-generation flu vaccines for the globe.

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Call for proposal

H2020-SC1-BHC-2018-2020

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Sub call

H2020-SC1-2019-Single-Stage-RTD

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

ACADEMISCH MEDISCH CENTRUM BIJ DE UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
Net EU contribution
€ 1 117 197,63
Address
MEIBERGDREEF 15
1105AZ Amsterdam
Netherlands

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Region
West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 1 117 197,63

Participants (16)

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Last update: 19 December 2023

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/874653

European Union, 2024