Altimmune has announced that a preclinical study of its intranasal COVID-19 vaccine candidate AdCOVID has demonstrated a strong immune response in the lungs of mice, particularly in the stimulation of CD8+ T cells. In July 2020, Altimmune reported that several studies in a mouse model demonstrated a strong IgG and IgA responses.
Altimmune is partnered with the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) on development of AdCOVID and with DynPort Vaccine for funding of the project. A Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity study is planned for the 4th quarter of this year.
The company noted that intramuscular COVID-19 vaccine candidates have not demonstrated a similar mucosal T cell response in the lungs and explained, “The mucosal T cell response in the respiratory tract is believed to be dependent on the intranasal route of administration and we believe it has the potential to provide additional protection against COVID-19.” Altimmune also touted other benefits of the intranasal vaccine, including its expected stability at room temperature.
UAB Professor Charles McCauley said, “The property that sets AdCOVID apart is that it has been shown preclinically to induce a potent T cell and IgA antibody response in the lungs, in addition to the systemic neutralizing antibody response induced by intramuscular vaccine candidates. This local mucosal immune response is an important addition to the systemic immune response and has the potential to block infection and prevent transmission.”
Read the Altimmune press release.
