TOKYO - A drug discovery venture firm announced the first phase of clinical trials in Japan for a new COVID -19 vaccine on Oct. 18.
The vaccine developed by VLP Therapeutics Japan uses next generation replicon technology, a new messenger ribonucleic acid mRNA that self-replicates inside the recipient's body after vaccine administration. It reportedly requires a dosage of only 1 10 to 1 100 of the mRNA vaccines that have been put into practical use and can be given in large quantities over a short time. The firm says it aims to apply for practical approval and then pass it to pharmacy within 2022.
While replicon vaccine clinical trials have begun in Japan and elsewhere, it is the first time they are being conducted in the United States. The replicon vaccine is a type of nucleic acid vaccine like mRNA vaccines. Unlike Pfizer and other mRNA vaccines, the next-generation vaccine Self-replicates within cells for a limited period of time, making it possible to induce immune responses even with a small dose
In the first phase clinical trial, the vaccine's safety and efficacy will be confirmed by administering it twice each to some 45 adults aged 65 and under. The company intends to begin the clinical stages of final-stage trials in spring 2022.
Fujifilm Corp. is in charge of manufacturing, and production of up to 50 million doses per year is the target for the time being. The Japanese government has also donated funds to produce the replicon vaccine.
When new infectious diseases spread in future, Wataru Akahata, Head of VLP Therapeutics Japan, commented: This will serve as domestically-produced fundamental technology that allows us to respond quickly.