HDT Bio Demonstrates RNA Vaccines Matched to SARS-CoV2 Variants Protect Against Infection

 HDT Bio Corp., a developer of immunotherapies for oncology and infectious diseases, announced today publication in eLife of results of preclinical research that demonstrate its RNA vaccine targeting specific SARS-CoV2 variants protects against infection in the upper respiratory tract, reducing potential for transmission. In addition, the animal studies showed that even when not matched against variants, HDT Bio’s RNA vaccine protects against lower respiratory tract infection and disease regardless of viral strain.

“Our research demonstrates that targeting vaccines to a dominant strain, such as delta and omicron, could significantly slow the spread of the virus by reducing transmission from breakthrough infections,” said Steve Reed, Ph.D., HDT Bio CEO. “If you add to that the fact our LIONTM system enables us to deliver a cassette of as many as five self-replicating RNA molecules, each targeting a different variant, we have the potential to make one vaccine that affords broad protection against SARS-CoV2.”

HDT Bio’s COVID-19 vaccine is significantly different from current mRNA vaccines. Using self-replicating RNA, which is designed to amplify itself inside the body, generates effective activation of the immune system at a much lower dose than current vaccines. The advantage of using a lower dose of RNA not only is improved overall safety, but also enables HDT Bio to deliver multiple RNA molecules in one vaccine targeting multiple variants of the virus. In order for vaccines using mRNA to deliver multiple RNA molecules, the dosage level of each molecule would have to be lowered to ensure safety, reducing the vaccine’s ability to generate effective immunity.

The preclinical research, titled “SARS-CoV2 variant-specific replicating RNA vaccines protect from disease and pathology and reduce viral shedding following challenge with heterologous SARS-CoV2 variants of concern,” was conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. It was published February 22, 2022, online by eLife a not-for-profit peer-reviewed open access scientific journal for the biomedical and life sciences.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220405005060/en/HDT-Bio-Demonstrates-RNA-Vaccines-Matched-to-SARS-CoV2-Variants-Protect-Against-Infection-of-Upper-Airways-Important-for-Preventing-Transmission