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Cambridge Team Completes Phase 1 Trial of AI-Designed Universal Coronavirus Vaccine

Cambridge Team Completes Phase 1 Trial of AI-Designed Universal Coronavirus Vaccine

A research team from the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with DIOSynVax (DVX) Ltd, has successfully completed a Phase 1 human trial of an AI-designed universal Sarbeco coronavirus vaccine, known as pEVAC-PS. The trial, which was open-label and dose-escalation in nature, involved 39 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 50. The vaccine, which is DNA-based and administered via a needle-free microfluidic jet system, was found to be safe and well tolerated. Participants developed immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, SARS, and related bat coronaviruses. The core antigen of the vaccine was designed using machine learning to create a 'super-antigen' targeting conserved features across the virus family. The study was conducted at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Facilities in Southampton and Cambridge.
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POP Biotechnologies Receives $9.7 Million CEPI Funding for Vaccine Development

POP Biotechnologies Receives $9.7 Million CEPI Funding for Vaccine Development

POP Biotechnologies, a Buffalo-based biotech company, has secured up to $9.7 million in funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to advance its SNAP nanoparticle vaccine platform into Phase 1 clinical trials. The funding will support the development of a vaccine candidate targeting H5N1 avian influenza, leveraging the SNAP platform's ability to enhance immune responses through protein-tagging technology. This investment builds on a previous $1.5 million award from CEPI, aimed at accelerating the development of vaccines against epidemic and pandemic threats.
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CEPI and Gavi Fund Development of Ebola Vaccine for Bundibugyo Strain Amid DRC Outbreak

CEPI and Gavi Fund Development of Ebola Vaccine for Bundibugyo Strain Amid DRC Outbreak

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) and Gavi, a global vaccine alliance, have committed over $100 million to fast-track the development of vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is currently driving a significant outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Three vaccine candidates are being developed by IAVI, the University of Oxford, and Moderna. IAVI's candidate, which uses a vesicular stomatitis virus to deliver immune instructions, is the most advanced in testing. Despite the funding, it will take months to determine the vaccines' efficacy and even longer for widespread use. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the outbreak's scale, which is one of the largest on record.
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Efforts to Develop Vaccine for Ebola Bundibugyo Strain Intensify

Efforts to Develop Vaccine for Ebola Bundibugyo Strain Intensify

Global vaccine non-profits are accelerating efforts to develop a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is driving the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) and Gavi have committed over $100 million to fast-track research and development of vaccine candidates. CEPI is investing $62 million in three vaccine candidates, while Gavi is contributing $40 million to create a market for a successful vaccine. The urgency stems from the strain's rapid spread and the lack of approved vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo.
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Clinical Trials Face Major Recruitment Challenges, Impacting Drug Development

Clinical Trials Face Major Recruitment Challenges, Impacting Drug Development

Clinical trials are experiencing significant recruitment challenges, with approximately 80% failing to meet their enrolment timelines. This issue is largely due to a lack of engagement and education among potential participants, particularly in marginalized communities. The delay in recruitment not only postpones the availability of new treatments but also incurs substantial financial losses for sponsors. The industry has made strides in improving trial processes, such as protocol design and decentralized monitoring, but recruitment remains a bottleneck. The integration of AI is seen as a potential solution to streamline recruitment by identifying and engaging eligible patients more effectively.
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POP Biotechnologies Receives $9.7 Million for Vaccine Development

POP Biotechnologies Receives $9.7 Million for Vaccine Development

POP Biotechnologies Receives $9.7 Million for Vaccine Development
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Ebola Vaccine Candidates Fast-Tracked to Combat Rare Strain in Central Africa

Ebola Vaccine Candidates Fast-Tracked to Combat Rare Strain in Central Africa

Three vaccine candidates are being expedited to address the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo species in Central Africa. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is investing over $60 million in three vaccine developers, while Gavi, another vaccine nonprofit, plans to spend $40 million to purchase these vaccines once approved. The candidates include an IAVI-developed vaccine similar to the approved Ervebo, a University of Oxford vaccine using the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 approach, and an mRNA vaccine from Moderna. Despite the financial backing, it may take several months before these vaccines are available for public use due to manufacturing and testing requirements.
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Tools to fight hantavirus show promise despite limited funding. Now researchers hope to continue

Tools to fight hantavirus show promise despite limited funding. Now researchers hope to continue

There were no treatments or vaccines to protect people during the recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship
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Moderna gets good news as it searches for life after Covid

Moderna gets good news as it searches for life after Covid

Moderna (MRNA) was one of the big beneficiaries of the Covid pandemic, producing tens of billions of dollars in vaccine sales and becoming one of the most carefully watched businesses in biotechnology. Since then, the task has been to prove that the accomplishment was not a fluke. As Covid-related ...
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US FDA to review AI-based tool to predict drug-related liver damage

US FDA to review AI-based tool to predict drug-related liver damage

June 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said on Wednesday it has accepted a letter of intent for an artificial intelligence-based drug development tool designed to help predict drug-induced liver injury.
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Researchers Develop Promising Hantavirus Treatments Amid Limited Funding

Researchers Develop Promising Hantavirus Treatments Amid Limited Funding

Researchers in Chile, Argentina, and the United States are working on developing treatments and vaccines for hantavirus, a rare but deadly rodent-borne virus. Despite the virus being known for decades, there has been limited investment in its research due to its rarity and difficulty in spreading between humans. Recent developments include a drug used for autoimmune diseases showing promise in treating hantavirus symptoms. The virus gained attention after an outbreak on a cruise ship, highlighting the need for continued research. The Andes virus, a type of hantavirus, is of particular interest as it can spread between people. Efforts are underway to develop vaccines and treatments, but funding remains a challenge.
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Cross-Reactive T Cells Offer Hope for Broad Vaccines Against Measles and Nipah Virus

Cross-Reactive T Cells Offer Hope for Broad Vaccines Against Measles and Nipah Virus

Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered that cross-reactive T cells could be key in developing broad vaccines or treatments for paramyxoviruses, including measles and Nipah virus. The study, led by Alessandro Sette, PhD, mapped human CD4+ T cell epitopes across these viruses, revealing conserved regions that could trigger immune responses against multiple paramyxovirus species. This finding suggests that instead of targeting individual viruses, vaccines could be designed to activate these cross-reactive T cells, offering protection against a wider range of viruses within the family. The research highlights the potential for new vaccine strategies that leverage existing population immunity.