July 22, 2020 -- A stabilized prefusion spike protein licensed by Oragenics has generated neutralizing antibodies in mice during immunization against SARS-CoV-2, according to a preclinical study.
The spike protein CoV-2 S-2P, which was created by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, adjuvanted with the TLR-4-agonist Sigma Adjuvant System, which are TLR-4 agonists that induce T-cell activation, generates neutralizing antibody titers in a pseudovirus neutralization assay and a plaque reduction neutralization titer (PRNT) assay. The immunization also produced a balanced T-helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 cell response, according to a preclinical report published June 11 in bioRxiv.
The research affirms Oragenics' development strategy with its lead vaccine candidate, Terra CoV2, according to the firm. The vaccine is in development and phase I human clinical studies are expected to begin in early 2021.