Title
Safety and immunogenicity of mRNA-LNP COVID-19 vaccine CVnCoV in Latin American adults: A phase 2 randomized study
Date Issued
01 August 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Sáez-Llorens X.
Aranguren E.
Celis C.R.
Cornejo R.
DeAntonio R.
Garrido D.
Gil A.I.
Gonzales M.
Hess-Holtz M.
Leroux-Roels G.
Junker H.
Kays S.K.
Koch S.D.
Lazzaro S.
Mann P.
Quintini G.
Srivastava B.
Vahrenhorst D.
von Eisenhart-Rothe P.
Wolz O.O.
Oostvogels L.
Publisher(s)
Elsevier Ltd
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 vaccine candidate CVnCoV comprises sequence-optimized mRNA encoding SARS-CoV-2 S-protein encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. In this phase 2a study, we assessed reactogenicity and immunogenicity of two or three doses in younger and older adults. Methods: Younger (18–60 years) and older (>60 years) adults were enrolled in two sites in Panama and Peru to receive either 6 or 12 µg doses of CVnCoV or licensed control vaccines 28 days apart; subsets received a 12 µg booster dose on Day 57 or Day 180. Solicited adverse events (AE) were reported for 7 days and unsolicited AEs for 4 weeks after each vaccination, and serious AEs (SAE) throughout the study. Humoral immunogenicity was measured as neutralizing and receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG antibodies and cellular immunogenicity was assessed as CD4+/CD8 + T cell responses. Results: A total of 668 participants were vaccinated (332 aged 18–60 years and 336 aged > 60 years) including 75 who received homologous booster doses. Vaccination was well tolerated with no vaccine-related SAEs. Solicited and unsolicited AEs were mainly mild to moderate and resolved spontaneously. Both age groups demonstrated robust immune responses as neutralizing antibodies or RBD-binding IgG, after two doses, with lower titers in the older age group than the younger adults. Neither group achieved levels observed in human convalescent sera (HCS), but did equal or surpass HCS levels following homologous booster doses. Following CVnCoV vaccination, robust SARS-CoV-2 S-protein-specific CD4 + T-cell responses were observed in both age groups with CD8 + T-cell responses in some individuals, consistent with observations in convalescing COVID-19 patients after natural infection. Conclusions: We confirmed that two 12 µg doses of CVnCoV had an acceptable safety profile, and induced robust immune responses. Marked humoral immune responses to homologous boosters suggest two doses had induced immune memory.
Volume
11
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Salud pública, Salud ambiental Epidemiología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85133938886
Source
Vaccine: X
ISSN of the container
25901362
Sponsor(s)
The authors are grateful to Giulia Lapini, Alessandro Torelli, Emanuele Montomoli at VisMederi Srl for their continued support and commitment in performing the neutralizing and RBD-binding IgG antibody assays, and Gwenn Waerlop and the staff at the CEVAC Laboratory, Ghent University Hospital for the cellular immune response assays. We thank the CureVac Teams (Biomarker & Immunoanalysis, Translational Clinical Science and Bioinformatics) for analytical support, Giulia Povellato and Robert Tensen (CureVac AG) for helpful comments on manuscript drafts, Keith Veitch for drafting the manuscript and Margaret Haugh for editorial assistance. This trial was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (grant 01KI20703), and CureVac AG.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus