Intranasal vaccine developer Intravacc and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) have announced a planned Phase 1/2 trial of LUMC’s Nanovac intranasal vaccine against coronaviruses, including SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2. The trial is expected to begin by the end of 2022 with initial results available in the first half of 2023.
In September 2021, Intravacc announced that it would begin offering contract development services for intranasal vaccines while continuing to develop its own pipeline, which includes the AVACC-10 intranasal coronavirus vaccine. Nanovac is based on a different technology than AVACC-10, which is outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-based.
According to LUMC, Nanovac “consists of a nanoparticle formulation containing multi-epitopes polypeptides of the immunogenic spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID19), as well as other 100% conserved epitopes derived from distinct coronavirus proteins of which important targeting has already been identified for inducing a complete humoral systemic and mucosal immune response, and cellular immunity response, both neutralizing antibodies and T cells, both for immediate immunization, and for a longer-term defense” and has demonstrated “surprisingly positive results” in animal models.
LUMC Assistant Professor Luis J. Cruz, who heads the LUMC’s Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging department, commented, “Intravacc and LUMC create major synergy by combining distinct complimentary expertises and competencies. A promising collaboration!”
Intravacc CEO Jan Groen said, “I am particularly pleased with Intravacc’s input in the development of this new nasal spray vaccine. This concept and Intravacc’s own AVACC-10 vaccine are potential game-changers in the fight against COVID. According to renowned immunologist Professor Ed Lavelle, of Trinity College Dublin, transmission of the virus is best blocked where it enters the body. It is therefore preferable to administer the vaccine via a spray in the nose for direct immunization of the throat and nasal mucosa.”
Read the Intravacc and LUMC press release.
