Rapid development of an inactivated vaccine for SARS-CoV-2
Qiang Gao, Linlin Bao, Haiyan Mao, Lin Wang, Kangwei Xu, minnan Yang, Yajing Li, Ling Zhu, Nan Wang, Zhe Lv, Hong Gao, Xiaoqin Ge, Biao Kan, Yaling Hu, Jiangning Liu, Fang Cai, Deyu Jiang, Yanhui Yin, Chengfeng Qin, Jing Li, Xuejie Gong, Xiuyu Lou, Wen Shi, Dongdong Wu, Hengming Zhang, Lang Zhu, Wei Deng, Yurong Li, Jinxing Lu, Changgui Li, Xiangxi Wang, Weidong Yin, Yanjun Zhang, Chuan Qin
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.17.046375
Abstract
The COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has brought about an unprecedented crisis, taking a heavy toll on human health, lives as well as the global economy. There are no SARS-CoV-2-specific treatments or vaccines available due to the novelty of this virus. Hence, rapid development of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is urgently needed. Here we developed a pilot-scale production of a purified inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine candidate (PiCoVacc), which induced SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies in mice, rats and non-human primates. These antibodies potently neutralized 10 representative SARS-CoV-2 strains, indicative of a possible broader neutralizing ability against SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating worldwide. Immunization with two different doses (3 μg or 6 μg per dose) provided partial or complete protection in macaques against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, respectively, without any antibody-dependent enhancement of infection. Systematic evaluation of PiCoVacc via monitoring clinical signs, hematological and biochemical index, and histophathological analysis in macaques suggests that it is safe. These data support the rapid clinical development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for humans.