CoroVacc – Development of a SARS-CoV-2 specific vaccine based on attenuated carrier viruses

The aim is to develop a SARS-CoV-2-specific vaccine based on attenuated carrier viruses. Due to a modular approach, the carrier virus can also be adapted on short notice to other pathogens and alternatively to tumor antigens for cancer control and tested with regard to its vaccination effect.

Vaccines, the most effective preventive measures against infectious agents, have contributed decisively to the reduction of diseases up to the eradication of pathogens in the past decades. In order to stop the further spread of Covid-19 and to be able to ease the associated protective measures in the population and the economy, it is necessary that a large part of the population is immune to the virus.

Under the leadership of Fraunhofer IGB, scientists from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI are developing a SARS-CoV-2-specific vaccine virus based on an already established platform vector. In continuation of the "MAVO TheraVision" project, they are combining competencies in virus engineering (IGB) with vaccine development up to testing in animal models (IZI). Vaccines based on attenuated viruses are highly effective: they induce both "arms" of the immune response - both the humoral arm with the formation of pathogen-specific antibodies and the cellular arm with a T-cell-mediated immune response.

Due to a modular approach, the carrier virus can also be adapted on short notice to other pathogens as well as tumor antigens to combat cancer, tested with regard to its protective effect and then offered to interested companies for further development.