Safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self-replicating RNA platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications: a randomized, open label Phase I study in healthy volunteers

Abstract Self-replicating RNA (srRNA) technology, in comparison to mRNA vaccines, has shown dose-sparing by approximately 10-fold and more durable immune responses. However, no improvements are observed in the adverse events profile. Here, we develop an srRNA vaccine platform with optimized non-codi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christian J. Maine, Shigeki J. Miyake-Stoner, Darina S. Spasova, Gaelle Picarda, Annie C. Chou, Emily D. Brand, Melanie D. Olesiuk, Christine C. Domingo, Hunter J. Little, Thomas T. Goodman, Jacqueline L. Posy, Jasmin Gonzalez, Terrina L. Bayone, Jessica Sparks, Ebony N. Gary, Zhi Xiang, Nicholas J. Tursi, Casey E. Hojecki, Hildegund C. J. Ertl, David B. Weiner, Irafasha C. Casmil, Anna K. Blakney, Brandon Essink, Guillermo Somodevilla, Nathaniel S. Wang, Andrew J. Geall, Zelanna Goldberg, Parinaz Aliahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55843-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841544554132537344
author Christian J. Maine
Shigeki J. Miyake-Stoner
Darina S. Spasova
Gaelle Picarda
Annie C. Chou
Emily D. Brand
Melanie D. Olesiuk
Christine C. Domingo
Hunter J. Little
Thomas T. Goodman
Jacqueline L. Posy
Jasmin Gonzalez
Terrina L. Bayone
Jessica Sparks
Ebony N. Gary
Zhi Xiang
Nicholas J. Tursi
Casey E. Hojecki
Hildegund C. J. Ertl
David B. Weiner
Irafasha C. Casmil
Anna K. Blakney
Brandon Essink
Guillermo Somodevilla
Nathaniel S. Wang
Andrew J. Geall
Zelanna Goldberg
Parinaz Aliahmad
author_facet Christian J. Maine
Shigeki J. Miyake-Stoner
Darina S. Spasova
Gaelle Picarda
Annie C. Chou
Emily D. Brand
Melanie D. Olesiuk
Christine C. Domingo
Hunter J. Little
Thomas T. Goodman
Jacqueline L. Posy
Jasmin Gonzalez
Terrina L. Bayone
Jessica Sparks
Ebony N. Gary
Zhi Xiang
Nicholas J. Tursi
Casey E. Hojecki
Hildegund C. J. Ertl
David B. Weiner
Irafasha C. Casmil
Anna K. Blakney
Brandon Essink
Guillermo Somodevilla
Nathaniel S. Wang
Andrew J. Geall
Zelanna Goldberg
Parinaz Aliahmad
author_sort Christian J. Maine
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Self-replicating RNA (srRNA) technology, in comparison to mRNA vaccines, has shown dose-sparing by approximately 10-fold and more durable immune responses. However, no improvements are observed in the adverse events profile. Here, we develop an srRNA vaccine platform with optimized non-coding regions and demonstrate immunogenicity and safety in preclinical and clinical development. Optimized srRNA vaccines generate protective immunity (according to the WHO defined thresholds) at doses up to 1,000,000-fold lower than mRNA in female mouse models of influenza and rabies. Clinically, safety and immunogenicity of RBI-4000, an srRNA vector encoding the rabies glycoprotein, was evaluated in a Phase I study (NCT06048770). RBI-4000 was able to elicit de novo protective immunity in the majority of healthy participants when administered at a dose of 0.1, 1, or 10 microgram (71%, 94%, 100%, respectively) in a prime-boost schedule. Similarly, we observe immunity above the WHO benchmark of protection following a single administration in most participants at both 1 and 10 microgram doses. There are no serious adverse events reported across all cohorts. These data establish the high therapeutic index of optimized srRNA vectors, demonstrating feasibility of both low dose and single dose approaches for vaccine applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-ef6eba9fcb8f48bda92cdacfb069e641
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-ef6eba9fcb8f48bda92cdacfb069e6412025-01-12T12:29:43ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-55843-9Safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self-replicating RNA platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications: a randomized, open label Phase I study in healthy volunteersChristian J. Maine0Shigeki J. Miyake-Stoner1Darina S. Spasova2Gaelle Picarda3Annie C. Chou4Emily D. Brand5Melanie D. Olesiuk6Christine C. Domingo7Hunter J. Little8Thomas T. Goodman9Jacqueline L. Posy10Jasmin Gonzalez11Terrina L. Bayone12Jessica Sparks13Ebony N. Gary14Zhi Xiang15Nicholas J. Tursi16Casey E. Hojecki17Hildegund C. J. Ertl18David B. Weiner19Irafasha C. Casmil20Anna K. Blakney21Brandon Essink22Guillermo Somodevilla23Nathaniel S. Wang24Andrew J. Geall25Zelanna Goldberg26Parinaz Aliahmad27Replicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncThe Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar InstituteThe Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar InstituteThe Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar InstituteThe Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar InstituteThe Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar InstituteThe Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar InstituteMichael Smith Laboratories, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British ColumbiaMichael Smith Laboratories, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British ColumbiaVelocity Clinical ResearchCordova Research InstituteReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncReplicate Bioscience IncAbstract Self-replicating RNA (srRNA) technology, in comparison to mRNA vaccines, has shown dose-sparing by approximately 10-fold and more durable immune responses. However, no improvements are observed in the adverse events profile. Here, we develop an srRNA vaccine platform with optimized non-coding regions and demonstrate immunogenicity and safety in preclinical and clinical development. Optimized srRNA vaccines generate protective immunity (according to the WHO defined thresholds) at doses up to 1,000,000-fold lower than mRNA in female mouse models of influenza and rabies. Clinically, safety and immunogenicity of RBI-4000, an srRNA vector encoding the rabies glycoprotein, was evaluated in a Phase I study (NCT06048770). RBI-4000 was able to elicit de novo protective immunity in the majority of healthy participants when administered at a dose of 0.1, 1, or 10 microgram (71%, 94%, 100%, respectively) in a prime-boost schedule. Similarly, we observe immunity above the WHO benchmark of protection following a single administration in most participants at both 1 and 10 microgram doses. There are no serious adverse events reported across all cohorts. These data establish the high therapeutic index of optimized srRNA vectors, demonstrating feasibility of both low dose and single dose approaches for vaccine applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55843-9
spellingShingle Christian J. Maine
Shigeki J. Miyake-Stoner
Darina S. Spasova
Gaelle Picarda
Annie C. Chou
Emily D. Brand
Melanie D. Olesiuk
Christine C. Domingo
Hunter J. Little
Thomas T. Goodman
Jacqueline L. Posy
Jasmin Gonzalez
Terrina L. Bayone
Jessica Sparks
Ebony N. Gary
Zhi Xiang
Nicholas J. Tursi
Casey E. Hojecki
Hildegund C. J. Ertl
David B. Weiner
Irafasha C. Casmil
Anna K. Blakney
Brandon Essink
Guillermo Somodevilla
Nathaniel S. Wang
Andrew J. Geall
Zelanna Goldberg
Parinaz Aliahmad
Safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self-replicating RNA platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications: a randomized, open label Phase I study in healthy volunteers
Nature Communications
title Safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self-replicating RNA platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications: a randomized, open label Phase I study in healthy volunteers
title_full Safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self-replicating RNA platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications: a randomized, open label Phase I study in healthy volunteers
title_fullStr Safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self-replicating RNA platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications: a randomized, open label Phase I study in healthy volunteers
title_full_unstemmed Safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self-replicating RNA platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications: a randomized, open label Phase I study in healthy volunteers
title_short Safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self-replicating RNA platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications: a randomized, open label Phase I study in healthy volunteers
title_sort safety and immunogenicity of an optimized self replicating rna platform for low dose or single dose vaccine applications a randomized open label phase i study in healthy volunteers
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55843-9
work_keys_str_mv AT christianjmaine safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT shigekijmiyakestoner safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT darinasspasova safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT gaellepicarda safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT anniecchou safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT emilydbrand safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT melaniedolesiuk safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT christinecdomingo safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT hunterjlittle safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT thomastgoodman safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT jacquelinelposy safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT jasmingonzalez safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT terrinalbayone safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT jessicasparks safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT ebonyngary safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT zhixiang safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT nicholasjtursi safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT caseyehojecki safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT hildegundcjertl safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT davidbweiner safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT irafashaccasmil safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT annakblakney safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT brandonessink safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT guillermosomodevilla safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT nathanielswang safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT andrewjgeall safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT zelannagoldberg safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers
AT parinazaliahmad safetyandimmunogenicityofanoptimizedselfreplicatingrnaplatformforlowdoseorsingledosevaccineapplicationsarandomizedopenlabelphaseistudyinhealthyvolunteers