A little medicine bottle is sad, wiping a tear, and saying, "We'll miss you, buddies!" (Cartoon by Hilda Bastian.)
This month, there are results from 3 clinical trials of next generation vaccines, including an early safety study of an intranasal vaccine in children in China. In Canada, an inhaled vaccine has become the 10th mucosal vaccine to reach a phase 2 trial. And another human challenge trial to test an Omicron version to use for testing mucosal vaccines has started in Singapore. There are also another 9 preclinical reports for next generation Covid vaccines.
I begin this post again with news from the US, where terminated grants have cut deeply into pipeline for next-generation vaccine development. The status of Project NextGen hasn’t been resolved yet, but there’s some news on several vaccines with funding for trials – including one company looking for manufacturing partners in Europe now.
After that, I have the news from the last month broken down into 3 categories of next-generation Covid vaccines as usual (definitions below). Each section ends with an overview of vaccines in the category – and each has a link to skip over that straight to the next news section.
ICYMI:
Check out my May 2024 post, “When will we get a sterilizing Covid vaccine?”
News from the US
Termination of NIH grants for vaccine development
Several grants for next generation Covid vaccine development were terminated this month (mostly pancoronavirus projects). None of these vaccines had reached clinical trial:
Brigham and Women’s Hospital;
Duke University (records in my collection on this vaccine here);
Purdue University;
University of California, Irvine (records here); and
University of Madison-Wisconsin, PanCorVac (Center for Pan-Coronavirus Development) (records here).
Research related to CalTech’s pandemic vaccine research was also reportedly terminated, but I couldn’t identify the grant. (Records on the CalTech vaccine here.)
News on Project NextGen-funded vaccines
The new US regime has put Project NextGen under a cloud. It was spearheaded by BARDA, working with the NIH. BARDA, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, is affected by the major HHS upheavals, to be merged with another group. BARDA cancelled its annual “industry day” this year.
The most-advanced of the Project NextGen “mini-efficacy” trials was for Vaxart’s oral vaccine. Vaxart has announced that the fate of that phase 2b trial is still unclear: They are on a 90-day pause, waiting to hear the final decision. In the wake of the pause, the company has laid off 10% of their workforce.
GeoVax is the company producing the City of Hope vaccine which aims to achieve better and more durable results for people with immunosuppression. This vaccine has had some strong results in early trials, and was Project NextGen-funded for a “mini-efficacy” trial. The company recently announced that they aim to establish a “strategic presence” in Europe.
I’ve reported on RocketVax a couple of times. It’s a Swiss biotech, with a Project NextGen grant for a phase 1 trial of an live attenuated intranasal Covid vaccine. In December, I reported that they had a new partnership with a Dutch manufacturer, HALIX for the vaccine. I thought its first clinical trial was just around the corner. The company has now announced a major new investment in their parent company by Emergent BioSolutions, which would support US manufacturing and commercialization. The announcement still referred to the Project NextGen funding, and it’s not clear how their plans will be affected.
Back to contents
Mucosal vaccine news
This month, the 10th mucosal vaccine reached mid-stage (phase 2) trial – recruiting now in Canada. A Covid human challenge trial began in Singapore. And there were reports from clinical trials for 2 mucosal vaccines that have been rolled out in China, including a phase 1 trial in children and young people.
In other news, there was more detail about the trial of an intranasal vaccine in Finland in a second registry record. As well, there were 7 preclinical reports of mucosal vaccines this month. In addition, a US company, Virpax, recently announced plans to develop an intranasal mRNA Covid vaccine.
Clinical trial reports for vaccines in China
Pneucolin (dNS1-RBD) from Beijing Wantai Biopharm: This is an intranasal viral vaccine, based on influenza, that has been rolled out for adults. Safety results from phase 1 trial in children and young people aged 3 to 17 have been published. This was a placebo-controlled trial for 2 doses with 63 participants, most of whom had previously received another Covid vaccine. There were no severe or serious adverse events associated with the vaccine, and the rate of mild and moderate reactions was similar between the vaccine and placebo groups. No viral shedding was detected.
CanSino’s Convidecia (Ad5-nCoV): A large, partially randomized, phase 4 trial that was previously available in preprint has now been published in a journal. This trial compared inhaled and intramuscular versions of the vaccine as a booster in over 4,000 randomized participants. Another 2,000 people who refused the booster were also followed up. Fewer people in the group for the inhaled vaccine reported symptomatic Covid in the following 6 months than in the injected group, but it was not a statistically significant difference.
ChAd-triCoV/Mac, the inhaled AeroVax vaccine from McMaster Uni (Canada) Phase 2 trial is recruiting
This placebo-controlled 350-participant trial funded by the Canadian Institute is enrolling participants now in Hamilton, Ottawa, and Halifax. The vaccine is a viral vector vaccine, inhaled with a device similar to an asthma inhaler. If you’re interested in participating in this trial, contact details are here.
All records in my collection for this vaccine here.
Another trial for the mucosal vaccine human challenge project has begun
MUSICC is the international consortium that aims to run human challenge trials of mucosal Covid vaccines. As I’ve discussed, the first step is developing a version of a Covid variant that is infectious enough, and also safe enough, for a trial. This is particularly complex now so few people interested in participating in this kind of trial have neither been vaccinated nor infected with SARS-CoV-2. A trial testing a version of an Omicron variant has been underway in the UK.
They are still recruiting for participants in London (contact details here). The eligible age to participate has been expanded from adults up to 30 years, to 40 years. The doses have been adjusted, too. (The trial began in December 2024.)
Now the first 5 people have been enrolled into Sing-CoV, a trial that aims to recruit 20 people, run by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) in Singapore. The organisers have apparently been overwhelmed with interest, and have set up an online form to screen people interested in participating here. (The trial’s registry entry is here.)
Preclinical reports for mucosal vaccines
I added 7 preclinical studies this month:
Intranasal live attenuated vaccine from the University of Hong Kong: This vaccine was adapted for variants, and tested in mice and hamsters. To increase the safety of the live vaccine, components are inactivated (NSP16 and ORF3a). The developers reported on challenge tests of variants, including Omicron. They also undertook a co-housing study in hamsters, showing inhibition of transmission from hamsters that had received a booster injection of this vaccine. (This is the second preclinical report for this vaccine. The first was published in 2022.)
A pair of reports for the intranasal viral vector vaccine CVXGA1 from CyanVac and the University of Georgia (USA): A Project NextGen-funded “mini-efficacy” phase 2b trials for this vaccine began recruiting in December – no report yet on its status. The vector for the vaccine is parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5). This month, the developers published a report on tests in hamsters, and another on tests in primates. (All records for this vaccine here.)
In the hamster study report, animals were vaccinated either with a single intranasal dose, or vaccinated with mRNA vaccine and a booster of either mRNA or intranasal CVXGA1. There were 2 versions of the vaccine (S protein only, or S and N protein). Challenge studies included one with the Delta variant. The intranasal booster provided signs of wider immune response than an mRNA booster. The version of the intranasal vaccine with both S and N proteins provided increased protection.
In the primate study report, African green monkeys were given a single intranasal dose of CVXGA1. In challenge tests, vaccinated animals cleared virus from both upper and lower respiratory tracts faster than unvaccinated animals. No virus was detected in the upper respiratory tracts of vaxed animals by day 6. Virus was not detected in tissues of vaccinated animals, and antibodies only minimally declined across the study.
Intranasal protein subunit vaccine developed by the Naval Medical University of Shanghai:This report of studies in mice found that the vaccine without an adjuvant provided some protection against mortality in Omicron challenge tests. There were no deaths in challenge tests after vaccination with a version with an adjuvant (lentinan).
Intranasal viral vector vaccine from the NIH (USA): This vaccine is based on adeno-associated viruses (AAV), and was tested in mice in intranasal and intramuscular forms. Both forms resulted in similar levels of antibodies, which were sustained for over a year.
Intranasal protein subunit vaccine from Shenzhen University (China):In this report, versions of vaccine were administered to mice via intranasal, intramuscular, or intraperitoneal routes. There were signs of systemic immune response after each type of vaccine, but signs of mucosal immunity only after intranasal administration. Intranasal vaccine protected mice from infection in challenge tests with the original form of SARS-CoV-2 and the Delta variant.
Molecular basis of CanSino’s inhaled viral vector vaccine, Convidecia (Ad5-nCoV) (China): This vaccine is used in both injected and inhaled forms, and has been rolled out in China, Indonesia, and Morocco. This paper reports on analysis of 2 versions of the vaccine using cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry. (All records on this vaccine here.)
Skip ahead to next news category
Mucosal Covid vaccine overview
5 mucosal vaccines are currently authorized for use, at least 1 in each of 6 countries. However, none have been authorized by a drug regulatory agency designated stringent, or listed, by WHO.
33 mucosal vaccines have reached clinical trial, although some of the vaccines are no longer in development. The vaccines that have entered clinical trials are tracked in a table below.
In addition to the 5 authorized mucosal vaccines, 5 have reached phase 2 trials, and another 2 have reached phase 2/3 trial.
US Project NextGen-funded trials in this category:
Phase 1 for MPV/S-2P, the intranasal viral vector vaccine developed by the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This trial for 60 participants began recruiting in July 2024.
Phase 2b (“mini-efficacy”) for the intranasal protein subunit vaccine from Castlevax (planned to start in the last quarter of 2024);
Phase 2b for the intranasal live attenuated vaccine from Codagenix;
Phase 2b for the oral viral vector vaccine from Vaxart (trial start announced at the end of September 2024; trial registration here); and
Phase 2b for the intranasal viral vector vaccine from Blue Lake Biotech/CyanVac (trial started in December 2024, trial registration here).
Back to contents
Durable or “variant-proof” vaccine news
There was a new clinical trial for the self-amplifying mRNA vaccine (samRNA) that has been approved for use in India since 2022. In other samRNA news, Arcturus Therapeutics, the developers of Kostaive, recently approved in Europe, recently reported that they are still working on their application for FDA approval in the US.
Results of a trial comparing a booster of samRNA, Gemcovac, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, India)
This vaccine was developed in the US by HDT Biocorp in Seattle, and licensed to Gennova. All records in my collection for this vaccine here.
The recent report describes a post-hoc analysis from a phase 3 trial, analyzing signs of immunity from boosters of an Omicron (B.1.1.529) version of Gemcovac, and the Oxford/Astrazeneca viral vector vaccine in 105 participants, up to 90 days after vaccination. The authors found that serum from people boosted with the viral vector vaccine showed only some response to various Omicron variants. Immune responses from Gemcovac were stronger and more durable.
Skip ahead to next news category
Durable or “variant-proof” vaccine overview
Note: This is a rather vague category, including vaccines that aim to be more durable. I’m not sure how many can be classified as aiming to be “variant-proof”.
Authorized vaccine:
There is one vaccine in this category that has been authorized by a drug regulatory authority designated by WHO has stringent, or listed – and tested against an mRNA vaccine:
LUNAR-COV19 (USA), trade name Kostaive: This self-amplifying mRNA vaccine was authorized in Japan in November 2023, with rollout in October 2024. It was also authorized for Europe in February 2025.
US Project NextGen-funded trials in this category:
Phase 1 for TNX-1800 from Tonix (aiming for lifelong immunity) (planned to go into clinical trial in 2024);
Phase 2b (“mini-efficacy”) for GeoVax (viral vector vaccine) (planned to go into clinical trial in the second half of 2025).
These trials have not been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as yet.
Note: Gritstone Bio was originally in line for a phase 2b trial for their self-amplifying mRNA vaccine. However, the company declared bankruptcy and in January 2025, their assets were sold.
Back to contents
Pancoronavirus vaccine news
This month, US government grants were terminated for several vaccines in this category, as discussed above. In better news, a report of a workshop by CEPI and NIAID on the development of broadly protective coronavirus vaccines has been published. (CEPI is the international Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.) I added a preclinical report for a new vaccine developed in India to my collection. And there was a conference presentation of a vaccine being developed in the US as well.
Preclinical results for versions of a protein subunit vaccine from Mynvax Private (India): Mynvax previously developed a Covid vaccine (records here). A new vaccine was developed with several versions, using combinations of components from the original SARS, SARS-CoV-2, and several animal sarbecoviruses. The vaccines were tested in mice, some of which had been pre-vaccinated with Covid vaccine. The mice showed signs of immune response to several coronaviruses.
News from The Scripps Research Institute (US): There was a lot of hype this month around a conference presentation by Scripps. Developers reported on studies in hamsters and mice, including signs of immune response to Covid variants and MERS, but with very little detail. CEPI has funded preclinical work on a MERS-only vaccine in development at Uvax Bio, a commercial spin-off of The Scripps Research Institute.
Pancoronavirus vaccine overview
A table below this post keeps track of vaccines I’ve added to this category so far that have publicly available preclinical results. Of these vaccines, 6 have reached phase 1 clinical trials, with some results for 3 of them marked *:
* CoronaTcP (Gylden Pharma, UK/US) – protein subunit. (Note: This vaccine was previously called PepGNP-SARSCov2, and the manufacturer was previously called Emergex.)
DIOSynVax (Cambridge University spin-off, UK) – mRNA.
INSERM/Ennodc (formerly LinkInVax) (France) – protein subunit.
Osivax (France) – protein subunit.
* VBI Vaccines (Canada) – eVLP. [This company announced bankruptcy in late 2024.]
* Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR, USA) – protein subunit.
US Project NextGen-funded trials in this category:
CoronaTcP (Gylden Pharma, UK/US) – protein subunit.
Unnamed (PopVax, India) – mRNA.
Back to contents
Addendum 1: List of authorized next generation Covid vaccines (with countries)
There are now 7 next-generation Covid vaccines authorized in 7 countries. Only one has been authorized or approved by drug regulatory agencies designated stringent, or listed, by WHO – in bold. Authorization is pending in the European Union. I’ve listed the vaccines in 2 categories, in order of date of first authorization (or initial approval).
Mucosal:
Razi-Cov Pars (Iran), intranasal protein subunit vaccine: Iran (October 2021).
Sputnik (Russia), intranasal viral vector vaccine: Russia (April 2022).
Convidecia (China), inhaled viral vector vaccine: China (September 2022), Morocco (November 2022), Indonesia (March 2023).
iNCOVACC (USA/India), intranasal viral vector vaccine: India (September 2022).
Pneucolin (China), intranasal viral vector vaccine: China (December 2022).
Self-amplifying mRNA:
Back to contents
Addendum 2: Table of mucosal vaccines in clinical trials
* Indicates new entry since previous update post.
Note: Where there is a link to “All records” for a vaccine, that’s in my public Zotero collection for the vaccine, and it may include non-mucosal studies for that vaccine. Notes* *on that collection are here. For details on how I track Covid vaccine progress to maintain that collection, see my background post.
Vaccine, type, manufacturer Mucosal version(s) Phase 1 to 2 clinical trials Phase 3+ trial(s) Phase 3+ efficacy or immunogenicity results
ACM-001Protein subunit
ACM Biolabs (Singapore/Switzerland)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.Results (press release only)|||
|Ad5-nCoV (Convidecia Air)Viral vector (adenovirus)
CanSino (China)(All records)|Inhaled through the mouth using a nebulizer.|Phase 1. Results.
Phase 1/2. Results (plus second later preprint).
Phase 1/2.Results.
Phase 2 (aged 6-17 years).
Booster adapted for variant.|10,420 people in China (Phase 3).Results.
1,350 people (Phase 3).
540 people, in Malaysia (Phase 3).Results.
904 people in China (Phase 4).Results.
360 people (Phase 4).
451 people (Phase 4). Results.
10,000 people in China (Phase 4). *Results for 4,089 in the Ad5-nCoV arms. (Previously in preprint.)|904 people: Comparison after 2-dose course of inactivated vax: Convidecia injection vs inhaled, protein subunit, or CoronaVac booster (Phase 4 results). Both injected & inhaled Convidecia had stronger impact on signs of immunity than the others; response after inhaled version was slower but longer-lasting than injected (which peaked then declined from day 14), better for Omicron though not as good for original virus. No measure of mucosal immunity used.
539 people (Malaysia): Signs of serum immune response were lower for inhaled Convidecia than for injected BNT/Pfizer vax at 14 days, but grew for Convidecia to similar levels. Mucosal immune response (SIgA) was greater for Convidecia; the rate of adverse reactions was lower.
451 people: Comparison of different versions adapted for variant, including a bivalent version. Booster of inhaled Convidecia after previous vaccination with inactivated vaccine. Signs of immune response to Omicron were higher for the bivalent vaccine, though lower for the original SARS-CoV-2 strain.
4,089 people, plus a 2,008 un-randomized unboosted control group:This trial tested the original vax during Omicron, with either an injected or inhaled booster. There wasn’t a significant difference between them, though the injected version fell below their ineffectiveness threshold and the inhaled one reached effectiveness despite having a smaller dose of vaccine.|
|Ad5-SViral vector (adenovirus)
State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease/Guangzhou Enbao Biomedical Technology Co (China)(All records)|Intranasal.|Infection prevention study.|||
|AdCOVIDViral vector (adenovirus)
AltImmune (USA)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1. Results – press release only.
Discontinued after phase 1.|||
|AdS+NViral vector (adenovirus)
ImmunityBio (USA)(All records)|Intranasal, oral capsule, or sublingual.|Phase 1 (oral).
Phase 1 (sublingual).|||
|AeroVax (Ad5-triCoV)Viral vector (adenovirus)
McMaster University/Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Canada)(All records)|Aerosol.|Phase 1 (& ChAd-triCoV/Mac).
Phase 2.Short protocol. * Began enrolling in March 2025.|||
|Avacc 10Protein subunit
Intravacc (Netherlands)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.Results (press release only)|||
|bacTRL-Spike-1Live attenuated
Symvivo (Canada)(All records)|Oral.|Phase 1.|||
|BBV154 (iNCOVACC)Viral vector* *(adenovirus)
Bharat Biotech (India)(All records)
This vaccine is ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-SWashington University in St Louis (USA)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.
Phase 2.
Small amount of data from these trials in the drug product information.
Phase 2/3.
Phase 2.|In India, 2-dose course of BBV154 vs 2-dose course of injected Covaxin inactivated vaccine (Phase 3 – and here).Results(previously in preprint).
See also the drug product information.
875 people in India, booster trial (Phase 3).|2,971 previously unvaxed people were assigned for the intranasal iNCOVACC, 161 for injected Covaxin. This trial did not aim to assess disease outcomes. It took place during the first Omicron wave.
Signs of immune response were higher for iNCOVACC than Covaxin.
Adverse events rate very low (5% local and 3% systemic) – lower than for comparison group.|
|B/HPIV3/S-6PViral vector (parainfluenza)
NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (USA)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.Fully recruited by early July 2024.|||
|BV-AdCoV-1Viral vector (adenovirus)
Wuhan BravoVax (China)(All records)|Inhaled through the mouth using a nebulizer.|Phase 1.|||
|ChAdOx1Viral vector (adenovirus)
Oxford University (UK) (This is the AstraZeneca vax)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.
Phase 1.
Results.|||
|CoV2-OGEN1Protein subunit
US Specialty Formulations/VaxForm (USA)(All records)|Oral.|Phase 1.(Fully recruited, final dose in November 2022.)Press release stating successful (without data) and progressing to phase 2 trial.|||
|COVI-VACLive attenuated
Codagenix (USA, with the Serum Institute of India)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.Press release in 2021 stating successful (without data) and progressing to phase 2/3.Preliminary results (conference abstract in 2021) and in a 2022 press release.Results in 2023 (press release only).
Phase 1 (booster).|Phase 2/3, as part of the WHO Solidarity Trial for Vaccines in Mali, Colombia, Kenya, Philippines, Sierra Leone. Fully recruited by July 2024. (Protocol.)||
|CVXGA1-001Viral vector (parainfluenza)
CyanVac/Blue Lake Tech (USA)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1. Results (press release only).Phase 2.Results (press release only).Phase 2b.|||
|dNS1-RBD (Pneucolin)Viral vector (influenza)
Beijing Wantai BioPharm (China)(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.Phase 2.Joint results.* Phase 1 (age 3-17). Results.|30,990 participants in Colombia, Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam.Results (previously in preprint.)
5,400 participants in Ghana (Phase 3).|Comparison of 2 doses of intranasal vaccine 14 days apart, with placebo control, during circulation of Omicron. Included >13,000 previously unvaccinated people.
Efficacy shown 90 days after 2nd dose. There was some decline at 180 days.
*Efficacy against symptomatic Covid:*No previous vax: 55.2% (CI 13.8 to 76.7)Inactivated: 38.2% (CI -49.2 to 74.4)Viral vector: 39.9% (CI -16.7 to 69.1)mRNA: 10.1% (CI -45.9 to 44.5)
*Efficacy against severe Covid:*No previous vax: 66.7% (CI 8.3 to 87.9)Inactivated: 54.6% (CI -47.3 to 86.0)Viral vector: 50.0% (CI -6.8 to 76.6)mRNA: 19.5% (CI -39.2 to 53.4)
*Efficacy against hospitalization:*100% (CI -9.2 to 100)
Adverse events were very low – similar to placebo. Less than 8% of people had a runny and/or blocked nose or sore throat.|
|FINCoVacViral vector (adenovirus)
Rokote Laboratories (Finland)|Intranasal.|Phase 1, * 2nd registry record.|||
|GAM-COVID-VAC (rAd26-S – Sputnik Light)Viral vector (adenovirus)
Gamaleya Research Institute (Russia)|Intranasal.|Phase 1/2.|7,000 participants in Russia (Phase 3 or phase 2/3 – not clear).||
|LVT001Protein subunit
LovalTech (France)|Intranasal.|Phase 1/2.|||
|MambisaProtein subunit
Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (CIGB) (Cuba)(All records)|Intranasal drops.|Phase 1/2.
Phase 1/2.Results.
Phase 2.|||
|MPV/S-2PViral vector (murine pneumonia)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)(USA)(All records)|Intranasal drops.|Phase 1.|||
|MV-014-212Viral vector (RSV)
Meissa Vaccines (USA)(All records)|Intranasal drops or spray.|Phase 1.Results (press release).||This vaccine is in limbo because of the company’s financial difficulties.|
|MVA-SARS-2STViral vector (MVA)
German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)/IDT Biologika(All records)|Inhalation.|Phase 1.|||
|NB2155Viral vector (Adenovirus 5)
Guangzhou Medical University/ Guangzhou National Laboratory(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.|||
|CVAX-01Viral vector (Newcastle Disease Virus)
Castlevax/Icahn Mt Sinai(All records)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.Results (press release).|||
|Ad5-S-Omicron BA.1Viral vector (Adenovirus 5)
Guangzhou Medical University/Guangzhou National Laboratory (China)
(All records)|Intranasal|Phase 1.Results.|||
|Patria (NDV-HXP-S/AVX-COVID-12-HEXAPRO)Viral vector (Newcastle Disease Virus)
Laboratorio Avi-Mex (Mexico)(All records on Patria, see also CVAX-01 for early development.)|Intranasal.|Phase 1.Results.
Phase 2.Results.(Previously available in preprint.)|Phase 2/3 for injected version only: Results.||
|PRAK-03202Protein subunit
Oravax (USA) [Oravax was established by OraMed (Israel) to develop this vaccine, using Premas Biotech’s PRAK-03202 and their oral vaccine technology](All records on oral PRAK-03202, and on intramuscular version)|Oral.|Phase 1 (in South Africa).Results(press release only).|||
|Razi-Cov ParsProtein subunit
Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute (Iran)(All records)|Intranasal (third dose after 2 injections).|Phase 1.Results.
Phase 2.Results.
Phase 1 to 2 (in 12-17 year-olds).
Phase 4 (Booster).Results.
Phase 1 to 2 (in 5-17 year-olds).|41,128 people in Iran, comparing the 3-dose course to 2-dose inactivated Sinopharm Beijing vax, only partially randomized (Phase 3).Results(Previous media report for the first 24,000 participants.)|Phase 3:The authors concluded Razi-Cov Pars was non-inferior to the inactivated vaccine, with similarly very low adverse events. However, the trial could not establish whether there was an advantage to an intranasal dose.
Phase 4:Immunogenicity and safety study of intranasal booster in 195 people, placebo-controlled. Increased IgA and IgG anti-RBD in nasal mucosa, but not in serum and saliva.|
|SC-Ad6-1Viral vector (adenovirus)
Moat Bio/Tetherex (USA)(All records)|Intranasal and inhaled.|Phase 1.Trial expanded to add an inhaled version (from 130 to 190 people). Results so far briefly mentioned in press release.|||
|SpikoGenProtein subunit
Vaxine (Australia)
(All records on mucosal and on all forms.)|Oral/sublingual.|Phase 1.|||
|(Unnamed)Inactivated bacteria
DreamTec (Hong Kong)(All records)|Oral.|Phase 1.Phase 1.Phase 1.
Note: An article of preclinical results has been retracted over lack of ethics committee approval.|||
|VXA-CoV2-1/VXA-CoV2-1.1-SViral vector (adenovirus)
Vaxart (USA)(All records)|Tablets.|Phase 1.Results.
Phase 2. (Started October 1, 2021.)Results (press release).
Additional brief results in presentation.
Phase 2b. (Start announced September 30, 2024.)|||
Back to contents
Addendum 3: Pancoronavirus vaccines with preclinical results
|DeveloperCountry
Vaccine name|Type of:
Vaccine
Coronavirus|Preclinical results|Clinical trial status|
|---|---|---|---|
|Academia Sinica Taiwan*(Taiwan)*
(Unnamed)|mRNA
All|Non-primate||
|Baylor College of Medicine*(USA)
(Unnamed)*|Protein subunit
Beta|Non-primate||
|Beijing University of Chemical Technology*(China)*
(Unnamed)|Live attenuated pangolin coronavirus
All|Non-primate||
|Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterUSA
RhAd52.CoV.Consv|Viral vector
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|California Institute of Technology (Caltech), IngenzaUSA, UK
Mosaic-8b|Protein subunit
Beta|Non-primate
Non-primate
Primate, non-primate
Non-primate (previously in preprint)
Non-primate (previously in preprint)
Primate and non-primate||
|Charité Universitätsmedizin BerlinGermany
NILV-PanCoVac|Viral vector
All|Non-primate (mucosal)||
|China Cuba Joint Innovation CenterChina, Cuba
Unnamed|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate (mucosal)
Non-primate(mucosal)||
|CodiakUSA
exoVACC Pan Beta Coronavirus|Protein subunit
Beta|Article on development
Non-primate (conference slides)
Non-primate(conference slides)|(This company began proceedings in bankruptcy court. See news.)|
|DIOSynvaxUK
DIOS-CoVax/pEVAC-PS|mRNA
Sarbeco|Non-primate
Non-primate
Non-primate (a different vaccine)|Phase 1 trial (incl. protocol)(Up to 36 participants in the UK)Began December 2021.Fully recruited.Expanded to another city – no trial register entry found.|
|Duke UniversityUSA
RBD–scNP|Protein subunit
Beta|Primate
Primate, non-primate
Non-primate (previously in preprint)
Primate, non-primate|* US government grant terminated in March 2025.|
|Francis Crick InstituteUK
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit with DNA boost
All|Non-primate||
|Fudan UniversityChina
HR1LS|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Primate, non-primate
Primate
Primate
Non-primate||
|Georgia State University, University of IowaUSA
SARS2-S (SARS-RBD)|mRNA
Sarbeco|Non-primate
Non-primate||
|Georgia State UniversityUSA
Om-S-MERS-RBD|Protein subunit
All|Non-primate||
|Georgia State University*USA
(Unnamed)*|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate
Primate, non-primate
Non-primate||
|Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityChina
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit
All|Non-primate||
|Gylden Pharma(formerly Emergex)UK/USA
CoronaTcP|Protein subunit
Beta||Phase 1 trial(26 participants in Switzerland)Results.(Formerly press release only)
Phase 1/2 trial(Up to 110 participants in the Philippines) (Not yet recruiting)|
|Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology*South Korea
(Unnamed)*|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|INSERM Vaccine Research Institute/Ennodc (formerly LinKinVax)France
PanCov (CD40.CoV2/RBDv)|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate
Primate, non-primate
Primate
Non-primate (conference poster)
Non-primate|Phase 1/2 trial(Up to 240 participants in France)Booster trial; began recruiting in May 2024.|
|* Mynvax PrivateIndia
Unnamed|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|OsivaxFrance
OVX033|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate|Phase 1 trial(48 participants in France)First participant vaccinated in February 2024.Fully recruited in June 2024.|
|Oxford UniversityUK
ChAdOx1.COVconsv12|Viral vector
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|Pennsylvania State UniversityUSA
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit
All|Non-primate||
|Scripps Research InstituteUSA
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit
Beta|Non-primate||
|Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan UniversityChina
rTTV-RBD-HA2|Viral vector
Beta (plus influenza)|Non-primate(mucosal)||
|SK Bioscience/ Uni of Washington/Uni of North Carolina at Chapel HillSouth Korea, USA
GBP511|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Primate, non-primate (testing Covid vaccine GBP510 against other sarbecoviruses)|More on plans for adapting this vaccine – GBP510 authorized as SKYCovione. See the University of Washington research listed below in this table.|
|Stanford UniversityUSA
DCFHP-alum|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|PrimateErratum (correction to legend in a figure).
Non-primate||
|Stanford University*USA
Unnamed*|Protein subunit
All|Non-primate||
|State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease Guangzhou Medical UniversityChina
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Primate and non-primate||
|Sun Yat-Sen UniversityChina
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|University of AmsterdamNetherlands
(Unnamed)|Virus-like particle
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|University of California Irvine/TechimmuneUSA
(Unnamed)|Viral vector
Beta|Non-primate (previously in preprint)
Non-primate (mucosal) (previously in preprint)
Non-primate
(There was also a paper about this vaccine’s development in 2021.)|* US government grant terminated in March 2025.|
|University of Houston/AuravaxUSA
NanoSTING-NS|Protein subunit(intranasal)
Sarbeco|Non-primate
Non-primate
Non-primate
Primate, non-primate||
|University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUSA
(Unnamed)|Viral vector
Sarbeco|Non-primate(Previously in preprint)||
|University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUSA
(Unnamed)|mRNA
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|University of SydneyAustralia
CoVEXS5|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|University of TorontoCanada
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|University of WashingtonUSA
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate(Previously in preprint)
Non-primate
Non-primate (MERS vaccine developed on the same platform as GBP511.)|(See “GBP511” above in this table.)|
|University of Wisconsin-Madison (PanCorVac)USA
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit
All|Non-primate
Non-primate
Non-primate
Non-primate (previously in preprint)|* US government grant terminated in March 2025.|
|VBI VaccinesCanada
VBI-2901|eVLP
All|Non-primate
Non-primate (Press release)|This company declared bankruptcy in late 2024.
Phase 1 trial(103 participants in Canada)Began October 2022.Fully recruited.(Further background info.)**Results (press release only).(101 participants)Previously vaccinated people boosted with 2 low or high doses, or 1 high-dose. Limited data reported. Some signs of immune response to a range of coronaviruses, mostly lasting at least 5 months. No major safety concerns.|
|Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of SaskatchewanCanada
Unnamed|Protein subunit
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
|Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)USA
SpFN/ALFQ|Protein subunit
Beta|Non-primate
Non-primate
Non-primate (incl RFN)
Non-primate
Primate
Primate
Primate (with J&J vax)|Phase 1 trial*(US)*Began April 2021, with 29 participants, including some on placebo.Results.Vaxed participants showed immune responses to several Covid variants and several sarbecoviruses, but no signs of response to MERS.|
|Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)USA
RFN|Protein subunit
Beta|Non-primate (incl SpFN)
Primate||
|Washington University in St LouisUSA
(Unnamed)|Viral vector
Sarbeco|Non-primate (mucosal)||
|Yale UniversityUSA
(Unnamed)|mRNA
All|Non-primate
Non-primate||
|Yale University/Xanadu BioUSA
(Unnamed)|Protein subunit, intranasal booster
Sarbeco|Non-primate||
Back to contents
Addendum 4: Definitions of vaccine types
Mucosal vaccines: These enter the body the way the virus does – through mucosal tissues. It’s hoped that provides defence against infection. They can be administered via different routes – squirts or drops in the nose, inhaled through the mouth through a nebulizer (similar to an asthma medication), or in tablet, capsule, or sublingual form.
Pan-SARS-CoV-2 or “variant-proof” vaccines: These aim to provide protection against any variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 – including future variants. I include vaccines that aim for greater durability in this group. Pancoronavirus vaccines can be targeted to:
– the “subgroup” the 2 SARS viruses came from (the sarbecovirus subgenus),
– coronaviruses from the next level up (the genus, betacoronavirus, which includes lethal diseases like MERS, as well as common cold viruses), or
– the whole coronavirus family, with 4 genuses, including betacoronavirus and alphacoronavirus (with more common cold viruses).
I classify a vaccine as a pancoronavirus one when the developers are explicitly targeting coronaviruses more broadly than SARS-CoV-2, and have tested for signs of response to non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus(es) (or clearly plan to).
Back to contents
You can keep up with my work at my newsletter,Living With Evidence. And I’m active on Mastodon: @hildabast@mastodon.online and less so on BlueSky (hildabast.bsky.social).
~~~~
For details on how I track Covid vaccine progress, see my background post. Notes on my collection of studies are here. The collection is in a public Zotero library you can dig into here.
Previous update posts specifically on next generation Covid vaccines prior to this monthly series (beginning May 2023):
Mucosal vaccines (March 2022)
Pan-SARS-Cov-2 and pancoronavirus (July 2022)
Mucosal vaccines (July 2022)
Mucosal vaccines (September 2022)
Mucosal vaccines (April 2023)
Pancoronavirus vaccines (April 2023)
All my posts on Covid vaccines, beginning from March 2020, are tagged here.
All previous Covid-19 posts at Absolutely Maybe
My posts at The Atlantic andat WIRED.
Disclosures: My interest in Covid-19 vaccine trials began as a person worried about the virus, as my son was immunocompromised: I have no financial or professional interest in the vaccines. I have worked for an institute of the NIH in the past, but not one working on vaccines. More about me.
The cartoon is my own (CC BY-NC-ND license). (More cartoonsat Statistically Funny.)