UB-612
| Vaccine description | |
|---|---|
| Target | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Vaccine type | Peptide subunit |
| Clinical data | |
| Routes of administration | Intramuscular |
| Identifiers | |
| DrugBank | |
| Part of a series on the |
| COVID-19 pandemic |
|---|
 |
|
.svg){kind=small} COVID-19 portal |
UB-612 is a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by United Biomedical, Inc. Asia, Vaxxinity (formerly known as COVAXX), and Diagnosticos da America (DASA).[1] It is a peptide vaccine.[2][3]
It is composed of SARS-CoV-2 S1-RBD protein and synthetic peptides representing T cell (Th and CTL) epitopes on the nucleocapsid, spike and membrane proteins. The multitope composition is differentiated from other solely spike-protein based vaccines. By recognition against epitopes on Spike (S1-RBD and S2) and non-Spike (N and M) structure proteins, UB-612 provides B-cell and T-cell memory immunity and offers a potential as a universal vaccine to fend off the Omicron variant and new emerging variants of concern.[4][5]
Technology
UB-612 is a peptide vaccine incorporating multiple epitopes, including the spike protein receptor binding domain as well as other virus structural proteins.[1][3] The spike protein peptide is fused to an Fc domain of single-chain IgG1, and the other six peptides are derived from highly conserved sequences from the spike, nucleocapsid, and membrane proteins of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. It also contains a proprietary UBITh1 peptide derived from the measles virus fusion protein, CpG oligonucleotides, and aluminum phosphate adjuvant to improve the immune response. It is produced in CHO cells.[2]
Clinical trials
In September 2020, phase I clinical trials of UB-612 started in Taiwan.[6] and in January 2021, phase II clinical trials began in Taiwan.[7] In February 2021, phase II/III clinical trials began.[8] As of June 2021, no data from the clinical trials in Taiwan had been published.[9]
In March 2022, UB-612 started phase III clinical trials in the United States.[10]
Research and development
In June 2021 Reuters reported that the US-based COVAXX vaccine development was a for-profit venture initiated by the Blackwater founder Erik Prince. Prince has described the profit-making possibilities in selling the COVID‑19 vaccine. The responsibility of creating distribution networks was assigned to an Abu Dhabi-based entity, which was mentioned as "Windward Capital" on the COVAXX letterhead, but was actually Windward Holdings. The firm's sole shareholder, which handled "professional, scientific and technical activities", was Erik Prince. As of March 2021, COVAXX had raised $1.35 billion in a private placement.[9]
References
- ^ a b Liao G (27 June 2021). "Taiwan's second domestic COVID vaccine's midterm performance in phase II trials inferior to local competitor: experts". Taiwan News. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ a b Martínez-Flores D, Zepeda-Cervantes J, Cruz-Reséndiz A, Aguirre-Sampieri S, Sampieri A, Vaca L (12 July 2021). "SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines Based on the Spike Glycoprotein and Implications of New Viral Variants". Frontiers in Immunology. 12: 701501. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.701501. PMC 8311925. PMID 34322129.
- ^ a b "COVID-19 Vaccine". Vaxxinity. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ Wang CY, Hwang KP, Kuo HK, Peng WJ, Shen YH, Kuo BS, et al. (May 2022). "A multitope SARS-CoV-2 vaccine provides long-lasting B cell and T cell immunity against Delta and Omicron variants". The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 132 (10). doi:10.1172/JCI157707. PMC 9106357. PMID 35316221.
- ^ Guirakhoo F, Wang S, Wang CY, Kuo HK, Peng WJ, Liu H, et al. (June 2022). "High neutralizing antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 after UB-612 vaccine booster". The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 226 (8): 1401–1406. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiac241. PMC 9278180. PMID 35723969.
- ^ Clinical trial number NCT04545749 for "A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of UB-612 COVID-19 Vaccine" at ClinicalTrials.gov
- ^ Clinical trial number NCT04683224 for "A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of UB-612 COVID-19 Vaccine" at ClinicalTrials.gov
- ^ Clinical trial number NCT04773067 for "A Study to Evaluate UB-612 COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescent, Younger and Elderly Adult Volunteers" at ClinicalTrials.gov
- ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE Blackwater founder Prince takes role in COVID vaccine venture". Reuters. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ Clinical trial number NCT05293665 for "Platform Trial to Compare Homologous Boost of Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines and Heterologous Boost With UB-612 Vaccine" at ClinicalTrials.gov
External links
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