A Thermostable mRNA Vaccine against COVID-19

Cell. 2020 Sep 3;182(5):1271-1283.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.024. Epub 2020 Jul 23.

Abstract

There is an urgent need for vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Among all approaches, a messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccine has emerged as a rapid and versatile platform to quickly respond to this challenge. Here, we developed a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA (mRNA-LNP) encoding the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 as a vaccine candidate (called ARCoV). Intramuscular immunization of ARCoV mRNA-LNP elicited robust neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 as well as a Th1-biased cellular response in mice and non-human primates. Two doses of ARCoV immunization in mice conferred complete protection against the challenge of a SARS-CoV-2 mouse-adapted strain. Additionally, ARCoV is manufactured as a liquid formulation and can be stored at room temperature for at least 1 week. ARCoV is currently being evaluated in phase 1 clinical trials.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; lipid nanoparticle; mRNA vaccine; mouse-adapted strain; non-human primate; protection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Binding Sites
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Coronavirus Infections / genetics
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunogenicity, Vaccine
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / chemistry
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / genetics
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Vaccine Potency
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology*
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Viral Vaccines / genetics
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Viral
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Vaccines
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2