Beta variant COVID-19 protein booster vaccine elicits durable cross-neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 variants in non-human primates

Abstract

The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, despite the implementation of booster vaccination, has raised questions about the durability of protection conferred by current vaccines. Vaccine boosters that can induce broader and more durable immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed. We recently reported that our Beta-containing protein-based SARS-CoV-2 spike booster vaccine candidates with AS03 adjuvant (CoV2 preS dTM-AS03) elicited robust cross-neutralizing antibody responses at early timepoints against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in macaques primed with mRNA or protein-based subunit vaccine candidates. Here we demonstrate that the monovalent Beta vaccine with AS03 adjuvant induces durable cross-neutralizing antibody responses against the prototype strain D614G as well as variants Delta (B.1.617.2), Omicron (BA.1 and BA.4/5) and SARS-CoV-1, that are still detectable in all macaques 6 months post-booster. We also describe the induction of consistent and robust memory B cell responses, independent of the levels measured post-primary immunization. These data suggest that a booster dose with a monovalent Beta CoV2 preS dTM-AS03 vaccine can induce robust and durable cross-neutralizing responses against a broad spectrum of variants.

Immunogenicity and Safety of SARS-CoV-2 Protein Subunit Recombinant Vaccine (IndoVac®) as a Booster Dose against COVID-19 in Indonesian Adults

“…However, the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine has shown promising results in adolescents; this vaccine is immunogenic and has significant GMTs [28]. The GMTs of the recombinant COVID-19 vaccines at 3 and 6 months demonstrated sustained immunogenicity and efficacy of these vaccines, highlighting their role in boosting immune responses over time and providing protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes and emerging variants [27][28][29].…”

Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of Booster Dose with MVC-COV1901 or MVC-COV1901-Beta SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Adults: A Phase I, Prospective, Randomized, Open-Labeled Study

“…The Sanofi Beta variant vaccine (VidPrevtyn Beta) was approved by the EU as a booster in November 2022 and remains the only COVID-19 booster vaccine using the Beta variant [ 22 ]. The researchers for VidPrevtyn Beta also argued for the use of a Beta variant-based vaccine even during the current Omicron landscape of COVID-19, citing the evidence of broad neutralization against Omicron subvariants and durability of immunity conferred by VidPrevtyn Beta in non-human primate and clinical studies [ 23 , 24 ]. AZD2816, a Beta version of AstraZeneca AZD1222, demonstrated improved neutralization against the Beta variant when AZD2816 was given as a booster dose after AZD1222 or mRNA primary series [ 25 ].…”

Beta-containing bivalent SARS-CoV-2 protein vaccine elicits durable broad neutralization in macaques and protection in hamsters

“…We recently showed that soluble prefusion-stabilized Spike trimers (CoV2 preS dTM) based on the D614 sequence formulated with the AS03 adjuvant elicited a favorable safety profile and high immunogenicity against the ancestral strain in naïve adults 13 . In addition, we demonstrated that, in primed macaques, one booster dose of CoV2 preS dTM-AS03 (D614 or Beta) enhanced neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against the ancestral virus and extended the neutralization to multiple VOC (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron) and SARS-CoV-1 14 , 15 . Preliminary data from two clinical trials assessing CoV2 preS dTM-AS03 as a booster in COVID-19 vaccine-primed individuals confirmed these results and further suggested the superiority of the Beta monovalent vaccine formulations compared to D614 monovalent mRNA or subunit vaccines 16 , 17 .…”