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Novel Vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Clinical Area
Life & Health Sciences
Infectious Disease
Therapeutics
Vaccines
College
College of Veterinary Medicine
Researchers
Niewiesk, Stefan
Binjawadagi, Basavaraj
Li, Jianrong
Peeples, Mark
Licensing Manager
Dahlman, Jason "Jay"
(614)292-7945
dahlman.3@osu.edu

T2017-299 Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vaccines to fight against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.

The Need: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a major cause of infant hospitalization due to acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) in children under 5 years of age globally, causing up to 200,000 deaths annually. RSV leads to significantly more hospitalizations than influenza in children under one year of age. Current RSV vaccines have had limited success, and there is a critical need for an effective, safe, and scalable RSV vaccine that can be used to prevent RSV infections in humans.

The Technology: Our technology offers a groundbreaking solution to combat RSV infections effectively. It involves the use of a recombinant viral vector that carries one or more respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) proteins. The recombinant viral vector technology allows for the safe delivery of heterologous antigens from different viruses, enabling a powerful immune response against RSV. By utilizing this innovative approach, our vaccine aims to provide long-lasting protection against RSV infections in vulnerable populations, particularly infants and young children.

Commercial Applications:

  • Pediatric Vaccination: Our technology is specifically designed to address the urgent need for a safe and effective RSV vaccine for infants and children under five years of age, significantly reducing the burden of severe respiratory infections in this vulnerable population.
  • Elderly Immunization: The technology has potential applications in the elderly population, who are also at higher risk of severe RSV infections. By vaccinating older adults, we can prevent hospitalizations and improve overall public health outcomes.
  • Global Health Initiatives: Our technology can play a pivotal role in global health initiatives aimed at reducing the global impact of RSV-related morbidity and mortality, especially in low and middle-income countries where access to healthcare resources is limited.
  • Healthcare Worker Immunization: Vaccinating healthcare workers against RSV can help prevent the spread of the virus in healthcare settings and protect vulnerable patients from potential infections.

Benefits/Advantages:

  • Effective Protection: Our technology provides robust and long-lasting protection against RSV infections, reducing the risk of severe disease and hospitalization in vulnerable populations.
  • Safe and Well-Tolerated: Extensive research and testing have demonstrated the safety and tolerability of our recombinant viral vector-based vaccine, making it suitable for use in diverse populations, including infants and the elderly.
  • Scalability and Accessibility: The technology's production process allows for efficient large-scale manufacturing, ensuring broader accessibility to the vaccine worldwide, even in resource-constrained regions.
  • Cross-Protection Potential: The vaccine's heterologous antigen delivery system may confer cross-protection against other viral strains related to RSV, enhancing its potential impact on respiratory infections.
  • Public Health Impact: Implementing our vaccine as part of routine immunization schedules can lead to a significant reduction in RSV-related healthcare costs and improve overall public health outcomes.

In conclusion, our innovative technology addresses the critical need for a highly effective, safe, and scalable RSV vaccine to protect vulnerable populations, particularly young children, from the severe impact of respiratory syncytial virus infections. With its potential to revolutionize global health initiatives and prevent thousands of RSV-related hospitalizations and deaths, our recombinant viral vector-based vaccine is poised to make a significant difference in the fight against this deadly pathogen.