Artes enters COVID-19 vaccine race

Recombinant vaccine contract manufacurer ARTES Biotechnology GmbH has entered development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine based on its virus-like particle (VLP) platform METAVAX and SplitCore. METAVAX^®, which utilises the duck hepatitis B virus (HBV), allows to incorporate large and complex proteins into VLPs. SplitCore applies capsid virus-like particles (cVLPs) as antigen presentation vehicles without involvement of host lipid membrane structures.

ARTES plan is to present domains of the spike (S-)protein of SARS-CoV-2 – with or without an antigen derived from the virus´ nucleocapsid protein – on the surface of VLPs produced with METAVAX and cVLPs.

„The compelling advantage of our technology is the cost-effective production of effictive and safe vaccines in a platform already applied in mass vaccination programmes, commented Dr. Michael Piontek, Managing Director of ARTES. In rabbits and in Phase I studies VLPs induced an effective antibody response.

Virus-like particles are protein structures that mimic the conformation of authentic native viruses without being infectious. They consist of one or more structural proteins that have the ability to self-assemble and to present foreign epitopes or complete antigens on their surface. Recombinant VLPs are superior to native or attenuated viruses while at the same time maintaining the same potential to trigger a strong immune response, said ARTES.

Borrelia OspA-antigen presenting cVLP developed by a research team of the University of Freiburg produced neutralising antibodies against Lyme disease. In a similar approach, SARS-CoV-2 antigens known to induce neutralizing antibodies will be presented by METAVAX and SplitCore VLPs.