Meissa Vaccines said that a SARS-CoV-2 challenge test of its MV-014-212 intranasal live attenuated vaccine candidate in non-human primates demonstrated similar efficacy for a single dose compared to currently available vaccines, and the intranasal vaccine stimulated both mucosal and systemic antibodies. According to the company, the vaccine generated antibodies able to neutralize wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and the Alpha and Beta variants in the non-human primates.
Earlier this year, Meissa announced that the FDA had cleared its IND for a Phase 1 clinical trial of MV-014-212; the company now says that dosing is underway in the Phase 1 trial, with interim data expected this year. A Phase 2 study of the company’s MV-012-968 intranasal vaccine candidate against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was initiated in January 2021.
Meissa Vaccines CEO and Cofounder Martin Moore commented, “Many scientists and public health officials think SARS-CoV-2 is becoming endemic, and we believe Meissa’s intranasal COVID-19 vaccine can contribute to global control of the disease and virus spread. The data suggest a single, adjuvant-free, needle-free intranasal dose of MV-014-212 may provide broad immunity to protect against infection by SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.”
Chief Scientific Officer and Cofounder Roderick Tang said, “We have deployed Meissa’s AttenuBlock platform to establish a recombinant live attenuated COVID-19 vaccine that is designed to be genetically stable as well as optimized to drive robust and durable immunity. We believe Meissa’s intranasal COVID-19 vaccine has the potential to be an important part of the endgame solution to contain SARS-CoV-2.”
Read the Meissa Vaccines press release.
