Preparing GMP-ready vaccine constructs for emerging COVID-19 serotypes using agile vaccine technology

The world has been hit by a new viral infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is transmitted by droplets and can be transmitted both through the air and by direct physical contact with infected secretions. Most experts have long predicted that this would happen, but very few had imagined the absolutely enormous consequences the epidemic would have all over the world. At the University of Copenhagen, we have for a long time developed and tested a new way of making vaccines. Using bacterial super-glue, we can attach virus proteins to the surface of a harmless virus. This virus is recognized as a dangerous virus and a strong immune response is induced. We have shown that this platform is ideal for delivering a flu vaccine and we have now started making a CoV19 vaccine based on the spike receptor binding domain. From now on, it will take about 6-8 months before we can start Phase 1 clinical trials in humans. The vaccine is based on the first CoV19 variant. An increasing concern is that over the next year, sero-variants of CoV19 will emerge that are not neutralized by either acquired immunity or vaccine-induced immunity. In this project we will be at the forefront of development and produce prototype vaccines based on such CoV19 serotypes. Information about mutations and variants will be available through the international community. The project will allow us to quickly replace one serotype with another (on our VLP), and test in clinical phase 1 as quickly as possible.