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Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination campaigns have multiplied around the world to reach a peak between 2021 and 2022. With the appearance of new variants, vaccine boosters have followed one another until today . Latest advance: a vaccine in the form of a nasal spray, presented as as effective as its predecessors. This nano-vaccine, designed to train the immune system to recognize various variants of the virus, could constitute a strategic ally in the fight against the disease.
Last April, the French start-up Lovaltech, based in Tours, announced that it had raised 6.8 million euros, paving the way for the launch of clinical trials for its anti-SARS-CoV-2 nasal vaccine. After encouraging preclinical results, the company is preparing to begin human tests before the end of the year. However, a serious competitor is already emerging in this promising niche.
An innovation resulting from years of cancer research
This competitor is a nano-vaccine developed jointly by Professor Ronit Satchi-Fainaro, of the Faculty of Medicine of Tel Aviv University, and Professor Helena Florindo, of the University of Lisbon. Their innovation is based on a decade of research into cancer vaccines. From the start of the pandemic, researchers adapted their oncology research platforms to target SARS-CoV-2.
Unlike messenger RNA vaccines, such as those from Moderna and Pfizer, this nano-vaccine does not rely on the full expression of viral proteins. The team chose to focus on short amino acid sequences identified using digital biology tools. “ We synthesized them and encapsulated them in nanoparticles
», Specifies Professor Satchi-Fainaro in a press release.
These nanoparticles, with a size of approximately 200 nanometers, have demonstrated their effectiveness against major variants of the virus, including Beta, Delta and Omicron. These samples, sent to the INSERM laboratory in France, confirmed results comparable to those of the Pfizer vaccine.
Effectiveness and simplicity: a vaccine with multiple advantages
One of the major arguments in favor of this nano-vaccine is its ease of use and storage. Unlike messenger RNA vaccines, which require complex logistics chains and storage at very low temperatures, the nano-vaccine can be stored in powder form at room temperature. “ It does not require freezing or special handling » insists Satchi-Fainaro.
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Another advantage: its method of administration. Designed in the form of a nasal spray, it can be used without the intervention of a healthcare professional. “ Anyone can use a nasal spray without prior training », Explains the researcher, adding that you just have to mix the powder with a saline solution to obtain the product ready for use.
The ambitions of researchers do not stop at the fight against COVID-19. “ We are currently expanding the use of this platform to target other diseases, to enable the rapid development of vaccines adapted to new threats », concludes Satchi-Fainaro.
