BioVaxys Technology Corp. announced that further analysis of the data from a preclinical animal study (also known as the "murine model study") of its haptenized viral protein vaccine technology show that BVX-0320, its COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on the Company's haptenized viral protein platform, elicits a robust T-cell response against SARS-CoV-2.
Using a technique called flow cytometry, the BioVaxys team found that its haptenized SARS-CoV-2 s-spike vaccine activated CD4+ helper T cells and CD8+ killer T cells that express the activation markers, CD69 and CD25. This result indicates that immunization with BVX-0320 at two different dose levels of 3µg or 10µg stimulated immune system memory 'helper' T-cells as well as killer T cells. CD4+ T-cells are crucial in achieving a regulated effective immune response to viral pathogens, and are central to adaptive immune responses. Generated following an immune response, memory 'helper' CD4+ T-cells retain information about the virus, which enables them to respond rapidly after viral exposure. CD8+ T cells have the capacity to kill cells infected by the virus, thereby stopping viral replication in those cells.
BioVaxys Co-Founder, President and Chief Operating Officer Kenneth Kovan says, "This is an exciting development not only in the COVID-19 vaccine field, but potentially for other viral vaccines. Post-vaccination generation of antibodies is no doubt critical and garners much attention. However, antibody levels can quickly become undetectable after just a few months, leading to the conclusion that anti-viral immunity has waned." He goes on to say that "a robust CD4 and CD8 T-cell response, such as that we are seeing, has potential to confer much longer protection."
Recent data from the preclinical study, which began in September 2020 and was conducted by leading independent contract research organization ("CRO") Charles River Laboratories, Inc. under contract with BioVaxys, evaluated the anti-virus immune response elicited by BVX-0320 in a controlled murine model by measuring the development of antibodies to the protein that binds the virus to human cells. Following two injections of BVX-0320 together with the immunological adjuvant, QS21, to 28 mice at four dosage levels, 96.4% developed positive antibody responses detected at week 6. Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer David Berd, MD, says that "Stimulating a 96.4% antibody response is an excellent development, but we believe that activation of T-cells is even more important. A post-SARS2 infection T cell response appears to be a defining characteristic following recovery in COVID-19 patients. Seeing activation of CD4 and CD8 T-cells differentiates our approach from some other COVID-19 vaccines." Dr. Berd adds that "a duration of immunity that cannot be guaranteed past a few months is really not useful protection. Activation of a T-cell response may be the critical determinant for effective long-term protection."
A separate study sponsored by BioVaxys is underway at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where the mouse sera (collected from the test animals) is being tested for the ability to inactivate live SARS-Cov-2 virus. Results are anticipated later this month.
James Passin, the CEO of BioVaxys, stated, "The outstanding results from the Murine Model Study of BVX-0320, including robust T cell and antibody results and an excellent safety and manufacturing profile, evidences the value of our haptenized viral protein vaccine technology platform and should support ongoing discussions with potential pharmaceutical partners. We are excited to continue to leverage this scientific momentum, as well as to continue advancing our novel COVID-19 T-cell diagnostic, a low cost and scalable tool which may assist public health authorities in the distribution of scarce vaccine resources, as it should not be a priority to immunize individuals presenting T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2."
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