Conventional mRNA vaccines must be stored and transported at ultra-low temperatures to remain stable and effective. During an outbreak, this can impact access to doses in low-resource or remote settings that lack the equipment needed to prevent vaccines from spoiling, hindering efforts to save lives and contain the spread of a disease. Today we announced new funding of up to US$8.9 million in Immunoscript Life Science to advance clinical testing of its thermostable next-generation self-amplifying RNA vaccine technology. The CLNE vaccine platform, developed and authorised in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, uses a ‘nanoemulsion’ design that can help overcome such temperature challenges to deliver freezer-free RNA vaccines. The move marks an important boost to India’s growing RNA medicine sector while potentially expanding the reach of RNA vaccines to communities where cold-chain infrastructure is limited. As our CEO Richard Hatchett highlights, this could better prepare "both India and the world against deadly emerging threats including a future ‘Disease X’.” Read more in the press release linked in the Comments.
The statement in the first sentence of this post concerning an ultra-low temperature requirement - and with it the justification for this project - is incorrect. According to EMA’s product information for Comirnaty, thawed (previously frozen) vials may be stored at 2 to 8 °C for up to 10 weeks within the 18-month shelf life, and refrigerated-only multidose vials can be stored for 12 months when stored in the same range – very well in line with truly conventional vaccines. Problem solved. Why spending $ 8.9m then?
It is fascinating to see how this project marries cutting-edge biotech with AI. The fact that researchers are using artificial intelligence to determine the optimal dosage for the rabies prototype is a glimpse into the future of vaccine development, making trials smarter and faster. Also, the self-amplifying (saRNA) aspect is a clever way to stretch supply in an emergency, essentially getting more "bang for your buck per dose. This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking that makes the 100 Days Mission feel achievable.
Ekta Shukla
1w
One step forward... from Innovation to Impact... Immunoscript Life Science with CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), advancing Disease X preparedness and global health equity.
Imagine if there was a self-amplifying platform that was thermostable and didn't require a carrier or nanoemulsion? Oh wait, there is! Over at Eyam Health .
Congratulations Immunoscript Life Science and CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) for this great stride!
Vaxart platform vaast is needle free !!! Pills that can be stored and delivered faster . We need to bring Vaxart in the world stage so we can start saving life .
Fatah Moussammi should be on the board. He knows!
Discover more: https://cepi.net/india-ramps-disease-x-preparedness-89-million-funding-boost-its-freezer-free-rna-vaccine