Coronavirus Vaccine Candidate

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are developing a DNA-based vaccine that can be delivered through a nasal spray. The project is carried out under the supervision of Dr. Roderick Slavcev, the founder and CSO of Mediphage Bioceuticals, Inc.

The vaccine will work by using engineered bacteriophage, a process that will allow the vaccine to stimulate an immune response in the nasal cavity and target tissues in the lower respiratory tract. The DNA-based vaccine will be administered non-invasively as a nasal spray that delivers nanomedicine engineered to immunize and decrease COVID-19 infections. The VLP will look similar to the structure of SARS-CoV-2 but is harmless. This similarity will activate the body’s natural immune response to protect against viral infections comparable to the VLP, including SARS-CoV-2. It will also bind to receptors that SARS-CoV-2 would bind to, limiting the possible sites for transmission. By causing these changes in the body, the vaccine will build immunity against COVID-19 and decrease the severity of infections in progress – serving as both a therapeutic and a vaccine.

Slavcev’s team has completed the design of the bacteriophage delivery system and is currently modifying this system to apply to COVID-19.  Additional design of components and further testing will take place later this year. Components of the research are supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

In the preclinical evaluation/regulatory stage