A vaccine produced in a bioreactor undergoes further processing in a sterile laminar flow cabinet. The photo is from the National Virus Vector Laboratory of the AI Virtanen Institute of Molecular Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. Credit: UEF / Raija Törrönen
Rokote Laboratories Finland Ltd., a newly founded academic spin-out based in Finland, is working to develop and present a nasal spray vaccine against COVID to the markets. The vaccine is based on research carried out at the University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland.
The vaccine uses gene transfer technology developed at the University of Eastern Finland by the research group of Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala of the Academy, and the technology has already been used successfully in several clinical trials using gene therapy to treat cardiovascular disease and cancer. The vaccine uses a safe adenovirus carrier that contains a DNA ribbon, which causes nasopharyngeal cells to produce the virus protein, which in turn produces a response to the vaccine. There is no real SARS-CoV-2 virus in the vaccine. Preliminary results show that the vaccine has performed well in animal studies, and clinical trials in humans will begin within a few months.
Nasal delivery was chosen as the method of administration of the new vaccine because the virus is also transmitted naturally through the airways. In fact, nasal administration seems to induce a broader immune response than intramuscular administration.
“Vaccines injected intramuscularly produce IgG antibodies in the bloodstream, but nasal vaccines also produce an IgA response that protects mucous membranes. We assume that this can also prevent those who received the vaccine from transmitting the virus, ”says Professor at the Academy Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, University of Eastern Finland.
According to him, the current vaccination programs do not eliminate the need for new vaccines, as new variants should cause new waves of infection.
“Even if we could vaccinate the entire population, at least people in medical risk groups will still need new vaccines against new variants in the coming years. The vaccines currently in use provide significantly less protection against the South African variant, which is likely to be the dominant virus in the next wave. Our vaccine already takes into account the most important variants, that is, the South African, the Brazilian and the British. There will certainly be a demand for this type of vaccine, ”said Professor of Virology Kalle Saksela at the University of Helsinki.
The company will conduct the first clinical trials of vaccines in Finland. In Kuopio, the commercial technology needed to produce the vaccine already exists.
The founders and board members of Rokote Laboratories Finland Ltd. are vaccine developers Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala of the University of Eastern Finland, Professor Kalle Saksela and Professor Kari Alitalo of the University of Helsinki, and Mr. Pasi Kemppainen, MSc (Techn .). The University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland are also co-founders and shareholders of the company.
According to Mr. Kemppainen, the company is now negotiating funding to ensure further development of the vaccine and its transition to clinical trials. After receiving a marketing authorization, the vaccine could guarantee the security of supply in Finland and Europe and the self-sufficiency of the vaccine.
“The vaccine can be manufactured in considerable quantities here in Kuopio and, in the long term, it can also be licensed outside Europe. The current focus is, of course, the COVID vaccine, but the same method can also be used to develop vaccines against other viruses, ”said Mr. Kemppainen.