Recombinant Spike Polypeptides for Broad Variant Protection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations that alter the Spike protein function and confer resistance to current vaccines necessitates alternative platforms for incorporating new variant mutations in a robust vaccine.

Innovation Solution

Recombinant polypeptides containing immunogenic fragments of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, optionally combined with antibody Fc regions, are developed to induce a broad immune response against various coronavirus strains, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current vaccines are used, then initial immune protection is provided, but resistance to new SARS-CoV-2 variants is lost due to mutations in the Spike protein

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevaccine efficacyVSAvoidresistance to variants

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The recombinant polypeptide is designed to elicit a broad immune response that targets multiple coronavirus strains including SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV. By incorporating immunogenic fragments from different coronavirus types and utilizing the antibody Fc region for enhanced immune activation, the vaccine achieves universal protection across multiple variants and strains, resolving the contradiction between maintaining efficacy and adapting to new variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The vaccine platform is designed to be dynamically adaptable to emerging variants. The recombinant polypeptide structure allows for easy modification of immunogenic fragments to match new viral variants, enabling the vaccine to evolve alongside the virus while maintaining protective efficacy through updated immunogenic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If recombinant polypeptides with multiple immunogenic fragments are used, then broad immune response is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroad immune responseVSAvoidpolypeptide structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple immunogenic fragments from different coronavirus strains are merged into a single recombinant polypeptide structure that includes an antibody Fc region. This consolidation approach achieves broad immune response coverage while simplifying manufacturing compared to producing and administering multiple separate vaccines, as the combined polypeptide can be produced in a single expression system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If immunogenic fragments from multiple coronavirus strains are incorporated, then cross-protection is enhanced, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-protectionVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The recombinant polypeptide serves multiple protective functions against different coronavirus strains (SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV) through a single product. This multi-functionality reduces overall production costs compared to manufacturing and distributing separate vaccines for each strain, as the shared Fc region and modular immunogenic fragment design allow for efficient production in common expression systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12409219B2Recombinant polypeptides containing at least one immunogenic fragment and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 BOOST BIOPHARMA INC

AI summary

Provided is a recombinant polypeptide containing at least one immunogenic fragment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same.