Engineered Extracellular Vesicles for SARS Antigen Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extracellular vesicles (EVs) have limited clinical efficacy in therapeutic applications, as seen in the terminated Phase II clinical trial for dendritic-cell derived exosomes in non-small cell lung cancer.

Innovation Solution

Development of isolated extracellular vesicles comprising antigens derived from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, which can induce both cellular and humoral immune responses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional EVs are used for therapy, then they maintain natural biocompatibility and low immunogenicity, but they exhibit limited clinical efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical efficacyVSAvoidEV engineering complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The EV system is segmented into distinct functional modules: antigen-loading module, adjuvant-incorporation module, and targeting module. This allows independent optimization of each component while maintaining overall system effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between enhanced efficacy and engineering complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engineered EVs are designed as universal platforms capable of delivering multiple antigens and adjuvants simultaneously. The system can be adapted to target different cell types and treat various diseases using the same core EV structure, improving clinical efficacy without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If EVs are engineered to include multiple antigens and adjuvants, then immune response induction is enhanced by 5-100%, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmune response inductionVSAvoidEV production ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Antigens and adjuvants are pre-loaded into EVs during the production process rather than being added post-isolation. This preliminary incorporation simplifies the manufacturing workflow and ensures uniform distribution of immunological components throughout the EV population

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple antigens and adjuvants are combined within a single EV formulation, allowing simultaneous delivery of multiple immunological stimuli. This merging approach enhances immune response induction while streamlining the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for separate administration of multiple components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250114445A1Extracellular vesicles for therapy

Publication Date: 2025.04.10 LONZA SALES AG

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to extracellular vesicles comprising one or more antigens from a coronavirus (e.g., SARS-CoV-1 or SARS-CoV-2) and optionally an adjuvant. Also provided herein are methods for producing the EVs and methods for using the EVs to treat and/or prevent diseases or disorders, e.g., infectious diseases.