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Aboshi M, Matsuda K, Kawakami D, Kono K, Kazami Y, Sekida T, Komori M, Morey AL, Suga S, Smith JF, Fukuhara T, Iwatani Y, Yamamoto T, Sato N, Akahata W. Safety and immunogenicity of VLPCOV-02, a SARS-CoV-2 self-amplifying RNA vaccine with a modified base, 5-methylcytosine. iScience 2024; 27:108964. [PMID: 38352232 PMCID: PMC10863314 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Continuing emergence of variants of concern resulting in reduced SARS-CoV-2 vaccine efficacy necessitates additional prevention strategies. The structure of VLPCOV-01, a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated, self-amplifying RNA COVID-19 vaccine with a comparable immune response to BNT162b2, was revised by incorporating a modified base, 5-methylcytosine, to reduce reactogenicity, and an updated receptor-binding domain derived from the Brazil (gamma) variant. Interim analyses of a phase 1 dose-escalation booster vaccination study with the resulting construct, VLPCOV-02, in healthy, previously vaccinated Japanese individuals (N = 96) are reported (jRCT2051230005). A dose-related increase in solicited local and systemic adverse events was observed, which were generally rated mild or moderate. The most commonly occurring events were tenderness, pain, fatigue, and myalgia. Serum SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin titers increased during the 4 weeks post-immunization. VLPCOV-02 demonstrated a favorable safety profile compared with VLPCOV-01, with reduced adverse events and fewer fever events at an equivalent dose. These findings support further study of VLPCOV-02.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Aboshi
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | | | - Daisuke Kawakami
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Kaoru Kono
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Yoko Kazami
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Takashi Sekida
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Mai Komori
- VLP Therapeutics, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | | | - Shigeru Suga
- National Hospital Organization, Mie National Hospital, Tsu, Mie 514-0125, Japan
| | | | - Takasuke Fukuhara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0815, Japan
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Iwatani
- Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0001, Japan
- Division of Basic Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Takuya Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Precision Immunology, Center for Intractable Diseases and ImmunoGenomics, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Sato
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Wataru Akahata
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., 1-16-4 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
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Akahata W, Sekida T, Nogimori T, Ode H, Tamura T, Kono K, Kazami Y, Washizaki A, Masuta Y, Suzuki R, Matsuda K, Komori M, Morey AL, Ishimoto K, Nakata M, Hasunuma T, Fukuhara T, Iwatani Y, Yamamoto T, Smith JF, Sato N. Safety and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 self-amplifying RNA vaccine expressing an anchored RBD: A randomized, observer-blind phase 1 study. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101134. [PMID: 37586325 PMCID: PMC10439244 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
VLPCOV-01 is a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine that expresses a membrane-anchored receptor-binding domain (RBD) derived from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein. A phase 1 study of VLPCOV-01 is conducted (jRCT2051210164). Participants who completed two doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine previously are randomized to receive one intramuscular vaccination of 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 μg VLPCOV-01, 30 μg BNT162b2, or placebo. No serious adverse events have been reported. VLPCOV-01 induces robust immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers against the RBD protein that are maintained up to 26 weeks in non-elderly participants, with geometric means ranging from 5,037 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1,272-19,940) at 0.3 μg to 12,873 (95% CI 937-17,686) at 3 μg compared with 3,166 (95% CI 1,619-6,191) with 30 μg BNT162b2. Neutralizing antibody titers against all variants of SARS-CoV-2 tested are induced. VLPCOV-01 is immunogenic following low-dose administration. These findings support the potential for saRNA as a vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Akahata
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., Marunouchi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan.
| | - Takashi Sekida
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., Marunouchi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Takuto Nogimori
- Laboratory of Precision Immunology, Center for Intractable Diseases and ImmunoGenomics, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Ode
- Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0001, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Tamura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kaoru Kono
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., Marunouchi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Yoko Kazami
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., Marunouchi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Ayaka Washizaki
- Laboratory of Precision Immunology, Center for Intractable Diseases and ImmunoGenomics, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
| | - Yuji Masuta
- Laboratory of Precision Immunology, Center for Intractable Diseases and ImmunoGenomics, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
| | - Rigel Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | - Mai Komori
- VLP Therapeutics, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | | | | | - Misako Nakata
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., Marunouchi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
| | - Tomoko Hasunuma
- Department of Research, Kitasato University, Kitasato Institute Hospital, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0072, Japan
| | - Takasuke Fukuhara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Iwatani
- Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0001, Japan; Division of Basic Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Takuya Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Precision Immunology, Center for Intractable Diseases and ImmunoGenomics, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
| | | | - Nobuaki Sato
- VLP Therapeutics Japan, Inc., Marunouchi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
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