Consensus SARS-CoV-2 Spike Antigen Broadens Variant Immunity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current COVID-19 vaccines face challenges in effectively addressing emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants such as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.1.529 due to enhanced resistance to neutralizing antibodies, necessitating the development of new vaccine candidates that provide broad immunity against these strains.

Innovation Solution

The development of nucleic acid molecules encoding a consensus SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen, incorporated into viral particles or expression vectors, and administered as immunogenic compositions, including the INO-4803 vaccine, which induces both humoral and cellular immune responses to protect against the original Wuhan strain and variant strains like B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.1.529.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current COVID-19 vaccines are used, then immunity against original SARS-CoV-2 strain is provided, but resistance to neutralizing antibodies increases against emerging variants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevaccine efficacyVSAvoidprotection against variants

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the antigen sequence parameters by creating a consensus antigen that incorporates amino acid sequences from multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. This parameter change in the antigen's molecular structure enables the vaccine to recognize and neutralize a broader range of viral variants while maintaining effectiveness against the original strain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The consensus antigen is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides immunity against the original Wuhan strain while also offering protection against emerging variants including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.1.529. This multi-functional antigen replaces the need for variant-specific vaccines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If vaccines target specific variants, then neutralizing antibody resistance is reduced for those variants, but coverage against other variants is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariant coverageVSAvoidimmune response breadth

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges antigenic elements from multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants into a single consensus antigen sequence. By combining conserved regions from different variants (including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron), the vaccine achieves broad immune coverage without requiring separate vaccines for each variant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The consensus antigen is designed in advance to anticipate emerging variants by incorporating sequences that represent conserved regions across current and future variants. This preliminary design approach allows the vaccine to provide preemptive protection against variants that may emerge while maintaining coverage against circulating strains.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230340033A1Immunogenic Compositions Against SARS-COV-2 Variants And Their Methods Of Use

Publication Date: 2023.10.26 INOVIO PHARMACEUTICALS INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are nucleic acid molecules encoding a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike antigen, SARS-CoV-2 spike antigens, immunogenic compositions, and vaccines and their use in inducing immune responses and protecting against or treating a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a subject.