MVA-BN® RSV
Recombinant MVA-BN® based RSV vaccine
RSV is the most prevalent cause of bronchiolitis and
pneumonia
and is often the causative agent when children below the age
of 1 are hospitalised. RSV has also been mentioned as a
possible
factor in connection with sudden infant death syndrome and
asthma in children, while RSV infections in elderly people
may
cause severe cases of pneumonia. An effective treatment would
reduce the current approximately 64 million RSV infections
every
year, causing approximately 160,000 deaths (Source: WHO).
Earlier attempts to develop an RSV vaccine based on a formalin
fixed (FI) RSV vaccine actually led to an enhanced disease
(inflammation of the lungs) and death in some infants.
Following the proof-of-concept study that demonstrated a
MVA-BN®-based vaccine (against measles) was well tolerated
and
highly immunogenic in a pediatric population (from 6 months
to
5 years old), Bavarian Nordic will initiate the development of
a
prophylactic vaccine against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Bavarian Nordic has been evaluating several vaccine
candidates
based on MVA-BN® encoding several RSV proteins, which
have
shown to be highly immunogenic and protective in suitable
animal models. As the body's natural defence against RSV is
only
transient leading to frequent or annual re-infections,
Bavarian
Nordic is currently identifying a suitable adult RSV vaccine
that
would also be suitable for the high number of high risk
groups
(e.g. immune compromised, people diagnosed with
cardiovascular
disorders, asthma suffers etc).
In parallel the preclinical development of a MVA-BN®-RSV
vaccine
suitable for a pediatric indication will continue and clinical
development of this candidate will commence after Phase 2
proof-of-concept studies in adults.
