The Duke Human Vaccine Institute is developing a new vaccine targeting the H5N1 avian influenza virus that can react against different virus strains and provide long-lasting immunity.
The project is in collaboration with Erasmus University in the Netherlands and is supported by a recent $7 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under the Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Center Agreement. The team aims to have the vaccine ready for phase 1 of clinical trials by early 2025.
Thomas Denny, chief operating officer and professor of medicine at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, is overseeing research efforts focused on two types of mRNA vaccines that target the virus.
The project is different from previous vaccines, as it is designed around a “centrally targeted immunogen” that aims to stimulate broadly neutralizing antibodies that can respond to different strains of avian influenza.
“The hope is that (with the new vaccine) we’ll be able to generate broadly reactive antibodies so we won’t have to (create) all these boosters every time the virus changes a little bit,” Denny said. .
He noted that the project’s timeline is “incredibly fast,” as NIH contacted Duke University in early June 2024 and plans to complete the study by November. After manufacturing and thorough testing, the team expects the vaccine to be ready for Phase 1 clinical trials by early 2025.
During this initial phase, small groups of 60 to 70 participants will evaluate the vaccine’s safety and immune response, setting the stage for larger Phase 2 and 3 trials.
Denny said the vaccine’s development was based on promising results from animal studies that showed the immunogen could elicit a broadly neutralizing antibody profile. Given these results, researchers are now working to ensure that the vaccine is safe and induces an appropriate immune response in human trials.
“The Phase 1 trial will just show that it’s safe, and then we’ll start looking at some blood profiles to see if people are making the right antibody levels and what dosages to use.” ‘You’re going to try to narrow it down to the vaccine,’ Denny said.
In addition to addressing immediate concerns about avian influenza, Denny noted that lessons from this project could have far-reaching implications for future vaccine development. The mRNA technology supporting this vaccine has demonstrated its versatility, with researchers exploring applications in a variety of infectious diseases and cancers.
This capability not only accelerates vaccine development timelines, but also paves the way for using mRNA technology to address other health issues.
Denny talked about the importance of training future scientists to expand the project’s impact, and how the researchers are working with “many people in South Africa and other countries to carry out research in their own countries.” “We are supporting the training of scientists who can do this.”
“Ultimately, it is our hope that there will be enough trained scientists around the world who can meet local needs without having to constantly rely on imports from the United States, Europe and Asia. ” he said.
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