mRNA Influenza Vaccine Composition for Rapid Strain Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current influenza vaccines face challenges in breadth of protection, production time, and reliance on egg-based processes, which are slow and require cold storage, making them ineffective for rapid response to new strains and pandemics.
Innovation Solution
Development of mRNA sequences encoding antigenic peptides or proteins from influenza viruses, allowing for rapid, scalable, and temperature-stable vaccine production without cold chain dependency, capable of addressing both seasonal and pandemic strains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If egg-based vaccine production is used, then traditional influenza vaccines can be produced, but production time is long and response to new strains is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential antigenic components (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins) from the complete influenza virus, eliminating the need for egg-based virus cultivation. This extraction approach allows direct synthesis of vaccine antigens through mRNA translation, dramatically reducing production time from months to days while maintaining immunogenicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates synthetic mRNA copies of the viral antigen genes, which are then translated in cell-free systems to produce the antigenic proteins. This copying approach bypasses the slow egg-based virus replication process while accurately reproducing the immunogenic properties of the original viral proteins, enabling rapid vaccine production against emerging strains.
2Reliability
If egg-based methods are used, then influenza vaccines can be produced, but reliance on cold storage is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing the chemical composition of the vaccine formulation, including the use of stabilizers and lyophilization (freeze-drying) techniques. These parameter modifications transform the physical state and chemical properties of the vaccine components, enabling storage at higher temperatures without compromising antigen stability or immunogenicity, thus eliminating cold chain dependency.
3Reliability
If traditional flu vaccines are produced, then protection against specific strains is achieved, but breadth of protection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by incorporating multiple antigenic proteins (both hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) from different influenza strains into a single vaccine formulation. This multi-functional approach allows the vaccine to provide simultaneous protection against multiple strains and subtypes, expanding the breadth of protection beyond what single-strain vaccines can achieve while maintaining effective immunogenicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to mRNA sequences usable as mRNA-based vaccines against infections with influenza viruses. Additionally, the present invention relates to a composition comprising the mRNA sequences and the use of the mRNA sequences or the composition for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, especially a vaccine, e.g. for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of influenza virus infections. The present invention further describes a method of treatment or prophylaxis of infections with influenza virus using the mRNA sequences.