- A research article on VER-001, a next-generation mRNA vaccine candidate developed by Vernagen, the U.S. subsidiary of ST Pharm, has been published in the international journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
- This study was conducted in response to Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a zoonotic disease with a high fatality rate. To date, no vaccines or treatments have been approved for SFTS, which is caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV).
- The vaccine candidate comprises two distinct mRNAs encoding the viral envelope glycoproteins Gn and Gc, which are key antigens for eliciting immune responses. These mRNAs were synthesized using ST Pharm’s proprietary 5′ cap technology (SmartCap) and formulated with the company’s ionizable lipid nanoparticle platform (STLNP) to produce an mRNA-LNP vaccine.
- The study demonstrated that the mRNAs successfully expressed the target antigens in vitro, and in vivo experiments using mouse models showed robust immunogenicity and potent neutralizing activity against SFTSV. Notably, the vaccinated mice exhibited complete protection against a lethal viral challenge, and no pathological tissue damage was observed, confirming the safety of the vaccine candidate.
- This publication provides important validation of ST Pharm’s mRNA platform for SFTSV vaccine development and is expected to serve as a key milestone toward future clinical advancement.
- ST Pharm and Vernagen remain committed to advancing high-value vaccines and therapeutics for combating infectious diseases globally.
[LINK] : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012999