News Medical
Date: Dec 3 2020
By: Sally Robertson

Researchers in the United States and Taiwan have demonstrated the potential of a novel protein-peptide vaccine to protect against infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Chang Yi Wang from United Biomedical Inc Asia in Taipei and colleagues say the vaccine, called UB-612, is the first “multitope” protein-peptide vaccine to be developed against SARS-CoV-2.

UB-612 comprises several components designed to induce high levels of neutralizing antibodies and a broad immune cellular response, including a viral fusion protein, and five synthetic SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides.

Studies in guinea pigs, rats, mice, and rhesus macaques confirmed the immunogenicity and efficacy of UB-612, while toxicity tests in rats indicated the vaccine is safe and well-tolerated.
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