Project

Development of a novel Virus Like Particle (VLP) vaccine

The Prevent-nCov project aimed at developing a novel vaccine candidate against COVID-19.

Project description

To control the pandemic SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, rapid development of a COVID-19 vaccine was needed. As part of the EU funded Prevent-nCoV consortium, we utilized in-house knowledge on the baculovirus-insect cell expression system to develop an experimental VLP nanoparticle vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The technology uniquely combined virus-like particles (VLP) and the antigen of choice. The two components were mixed under physiological conditions, leading to the high-density display of the antigen on the VLP surface. Vaccine candidates were tested for their virus neutralisation capacity in vitro and in preclinical infection models before proceeding with a phase I/IIa study.

Results

Currently in phase 3 with Bavarian Nordic.

Publication

The Prevent-nCov consortium consists of the companies AdaptVac and ExpreS2ion and the Department of Immunology and Microbiology (UCPH), the Leiden University Medical Center, the Institute for Tropical Medicine (University of Tübingen), the Radboud University Medical Center.