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. 2022 Jun 30;17(4):491–522. doi: 10.1016/j.ajps.2022.05.003

Table 12.

Self-amplifying RNA vaccines for infectious and cancerous diseases.

Vaccine Platform Disease Target Antigen Delivery Platform Preclinical/Clinical Setting Immune Response Ref.
saRNA Influenza HA N/A Mice - Induction of similar protective efficacy as a conventional mRNA vaccine but at a 64-fold lower dose [108]
saRNA Influenza Nucleoprotein LNP (DLinDMA:DSPC:cholesterol:PEG-DMG 2000, 40:10:2:48) Mice - Antigen expression in muscle cells transferred to APCs is responsible for induction of MHC class-I restricted CD8+ T cells [109]
saRNA RSV F LNP (DLinDMA:DSPC:cholesterol:PEG-DMG 2000, 40:10:2:48) Mice - Enhanced immunogenicity by activation of type I IFN response [110]
saRNA Melanoma Colon carcinoma IL-2 LNP (DOTAP:DSPC: cholesterol:PEG2000, 40:10:48:2) Mice - Induction of immunogenic cancer death, stimulation of TLR3-mediated type I IFN response, priming systemic and memory antitumor immunity
- Eradication of large tumors and regression of distal uninjected tumors
[111]
saRNA with mutated VEEV backbone Melanoma IL-2 LNP (DOTAP:DSPC:cholesterol:DSPE-PEG2000, 40:10:48:2) Mice - Enhanced intra-tumoral antigen expression by 5.5-fold
- Increased CD8+ T cell response
- Inhibition of tumor growth
[112]
saRNA HIV-1C gag, env, polRT N/A Mice/ Phase I (NCT03639714) - Activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells
- Production of HIV-1C specific antibodies
[113]
saRNA Zika prM, E N/A Mice/ Phase II (NCT03953235) - Moderate humoral and cellular immune responses due to type I IFNs [114]
saRNA Ebola, H1N1, Toxoplasma gondii EBOV-GP, HA, cytoplasmic ovalbumin Dendritic NPs Mice - Activation of CD8+ T-cell and antibody responses that fully protected against lethal exposures to the deadly pathogens [115]
saRNA Zika E Dendritic NPs Mice - Production of E-specific IgG antibodies
- Activation of CD8+ T cells
[116]
saRNA HIV-1 TV1 Env gp140 Cationic nanoemulsion Rhesus macaques - Induction of potent cellular responses greater in magnitude than those induced by saRNA packaged in viral replicon particle (VRP) or by a recombinant HIV envelope protein formulated with MF59 adjuvant
- Production of anti-envelope binding and neutralizing antibodies that exceeded those induced by VRP vaccine
[117]
saRNA Influenza HA Cationic nanoemulsion Mice
Ferrets
- Induction of potent neutralizing antibody and cellular immune responses
- Protection of immunized animals from lethal viral challenge and containment of viral replication in upper respiratory tract
[118]
saRNA + GM-CSF Influenza Nucleoprotein Cationic nanoemulsion Mice - Enhanced recruitment of APCs
- Improved magnitude of nucleoprotein-specific CD8+ T-cell response
- Improved protection against lethal challenge
[119]
saRNA Zika C, prM, E Cationic nanoemulsion Mice Non-human primates - Production of potent neutralizing antibodies
- Protection of animals from Zika lethal challenge
[120]
saRNA HIV gp120 LNP (DOTAP:DSPC:cholesterol:DSPE-PEG, 40:10:48:2) Mice - Effective delivery in the muscle and expression of mRNA for 30 d
- Production of high titers of gp120-specific antibodies and antigen-specific GC B cells
[121]
saRNA Influenza Nucleoprotein LNP (DLinDMA:DSPC:cholesterol:PEG-DMG 2000, 40:10:2:48) Mice - Activation of robust polyfunctional CD4+ T helper 1 cells, nucleoprotein-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells
- Reduced lung viral titers and pathology, and increased survival
[122]
saRNA Zika NS3 LNP (Proprietary lipids) Mice - Failure to stimulate antibody production
- Production of polyfunctional CD8+ T cells that prevented death in lethally infected adult mice and fetal growth restriction in infected pregnant mice
[123]
saRNA Rabies Glycoprotein G Cationic nanoemulsion Rat/ Phase I (NCT04062669) - RNA detectable at injection site and in lymph nodes up to 2 months post-injection
- Well tolerated by animals upon intramuscular administration
[124]
taRNA Influenza HA N/A Mice - Induction of neutralizing antibodies and a protective immune response at low doses of 50 ng [125]
saRNA SARS-CoV-2 S LNP (ionizable lipid: phosphatidylcholine: cholesterol:PEG-lipid, 50:10:38.5:1.5) Mice/ Phase I/II (ISRCTN17072692) - Induction of highly specific Th1-biased neutralizing antibodies and cellular responses [126]
saRNA SARS-CoV-2 S LION Mice, Non-human primates/ Phase I (NCT04844268) Low dose of 50 µg:
- Production of Th1-biased S-specific IgG antibodies that lasted for 70 d and efficiently neutralized SARS-CoV-2
- Induction of potent T cell response in young mice and nonhuman primates, and induction of both humoral and cellular immunities in aged mice after booster dose
High dose of 250 µg:
- Induction of neutralizing antibodies that protected non-human primates from infection and disease
[127]
saRNA SARS-CoV-2 S LNP (ionizable lipid:DSPC:cholesterol:PEG2000-DMG, 50:13:35.5:1.5) hACE2 transgenic mice/ Phase I (NCT04480957) - Activation of strong Th1-biased antibody responses with neutralizing antibody titers lasting 60 d
- Induction of a strong CD8+ T cell response
- Protected of mice from mortality and infection
[128]