Medicine has taken a step from reactive defense to a preventive strategy. Scientists from the University of Cambridge, together with DIOSynVax (DVX) Ltd, have presented a revolutionary platform for creating vaccines based on computer modeling. The first clinical trials in humans have already confirmed the safety of the drug and its ability to trigger a powerful immune response.

As reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a study published in the Journal of Infection, the new technology allows for the creation of protection against viruses that are not yet circulating among the population but may appear in the future.

From Catching Up to Predicting: How the New Technology Works

The traditional model of vaccine development is built on fighting already known strains. Doctors are forced to constantly "catch up" with the infection, regularly updating the composition of drugs in response to mutations. The Cambridge approach breaks this scheme using artificial intelligence.

The process of creating a "superantigen" includes three key stages:

  • Global data analysis. Machine learning algorithms processed genetic data of viruses collected by epidemiological surveillance systems around the world.
  • Search for invariants. AI identified stable, unchanging components that are common to entire families of viruses.
  • Synthesis of protection. Based on this data, the computer designed a synthetic antigen capable of triggering an immune response against a wide range of related pathogens — even those that do not yet exist in nature.

First Results: Protection Against Coronavirus and Its "Relatives"

The initial stage of the project focused on creating a universal vaccine against sarbecoviruses. As part of the first phase of clinical trials, conducted at research centers in Southampton and Cambridge, the drug was tested on 39 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 50.

Analysis results exceeded expectations: the subjects' bodies successfully produced antibodies not only to SARS-CoV-2 (the causative agent of COVID-19) and classic SARS, but also to related bat coronaviruses. These viruses do not yet infect humans, but have a high potential to jump to humans in the future.

No Syringes: Innovations in Administration

Developers changed not only the genetic content of the drug but also the method of its delivery into the body. Instead of classic syringes, the trials used a needle-free microfluidic jet injection system.

The drug penetrates under the skin under pressure using an ultra-thin stream of liquid. This method will significantly simplify the conduct of future mass vaccination campaigns and minimize discomfort for patients.

Prospects: Weapons Against Entire Viral Lineages

The versatility of the platform allows the method of computer design of superantigens to be scaled to other dangerous virus families, including influenza and Ebola fever. Instead of targeted protection against one variant of a virus, medicine receives a tool against entire viral lineages.

"We have turned vaccine development from reactive to prospective, protected against the challenges of the future. Our drugs will continue to provide protection even when viruses mutate into new strains," noted Professor Jonathan Hini from the University of Cambridge.

Currently, the development is being prepared for a larger-scale second phase of clinical trials. Scientists need to check the duration of the formed immunity in a larger and more diverse group of people before the platform is approved for mass practical use.