Abnova File for Universal COVID-19 Self-Amplifying mRNA Vaccine Patent and Establish GMP Manufacturing Partnership

Neihu, Taiwan (March 23, 2021)

Abnova announced today that its COVID-19 self-amplifying mRNA (SAM) universal vaccine is effective against both the UK (B1.171) and South Africa (B1.351) variants by utilizing a proprietary COVID-19 RBD vector (under Abnova patent filing) (http://www.abnova.com/support/technologies.asp?switchfunctionid={D53F2264-DFE0-4D89-B20F-E44C4BB257A1}). Abnova has also established a GMP partnership with T&T Scientific in the US for manufacturing of lipid nanoparticle delivery. So far, vaccines developed by Moderna, BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Johnson&Johnson, Novavax have not been effective against the B1.351 and Brazilian (P.1) variants.

To arrive the current results, Abnova has performed detailed experiments comparing different vector constructs, SAM dosages, and delivery vehicles (ie, Polymer and ionizable lipid) and measuring antibody titer and neutralizing antibody against COVID-19 and the variant viruses. In an in vivo mouse model, Abnova’s proprietary COVID-19 RBD vector outperforms the S1+S2 spike construct used in all COVID-19 EUA approved vaccines and vaccines undergo clinical testing. Moreover, Abnova’s SAM can be immunized at lower dose (10ug) compared to mRNA (30-100ug) to generate an effective antibody response.

Moderna and BioNTech have utilized the ionizable lipids as delivery vehicles in their approved mRNA vaccines. Ionizable lipids while highly functional and immunogenic also cause adverse side effects such a fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and headache in the clinical trials. This required the companies to decrease their mRNA dose, thereby limiting the antibody titer and neutralizing antibody particularly against the variants. Because SAM undergoes self-replication inside the cell after immunization, SAM needs lower mRNA dose and less lipid for delivering into the cell, hence minimizing the potential side effects.