Safety and immunogenicity of the bi-cistronic GLS-5310 COVID-19 DNA vaccine delivered with the GeneDerm suction device

Abstract

Objectives: The CoV2-001 phase I randomized trial evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of the GLS-5310 bi-cistronic DNA vaccine through 48 weeks of follow-up.

Design: A total of 45 vaccine-naïve participants were recruited between December 31, 2020, and March 30, 2021. GLS-5310, encoding for the SARS-CoV-2 spike and open reading frame 3a (ORF3a) proteins, was administered intradermally at 0.6 mg or 1.2 mg per dose, followed by application of the GeneDerm suction device as part of a two-dose regimen spaced either 8 or 12 weeks between vaccinations.

Results: GLS-5310 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported. Antibody and T cell responses were dose-independent. Anti-spike antibodies were induced in 95.5% of participants with an average geometric mean titer of ∼480 four weeks after vaccination and declined minimally through 48 weeks. Neutralizing antibodies were induced in 55.5% of participants with post-vaccination geometric mean titer of 28.4. T cell responses were induced in 97.8% of participants, averaging 716 site forming units/10⁶ cells four weeks after vaccination, increasing to 1248 at week 24, and remaining greater than 1000 through 48 weeks.

Conclusion: GLS-5310 administered with the GeneDerm suction device was well tolerated and induced high levels of binding antibodies and T-cell responses. Antibody responses were similar to other DNA vaccines, whereas T cell responses were many-fold greater than DNA and non-DNA vaccines.

Keywords: DNA vaccine; ORF3a; Persistence of immune response; SARS-CoV-2; Suction mediated in vivo transfection; T cell immune response.