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Principal Investigator: Kara W Chew
Organization: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
Fiscal Year: 2024
Award: $1,435,214
Funding agency: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This U01-supported clinical trial will test a unique T follicular helper (Tfh)-targeting vaccine approach, “s3”, that
we predict will generate exceptionally broad and long-lived antigen-specific antibody responses, characteristics
likely to result in resilient vaccines that maintain protection over long periods. The “s3” adjuvant moiety is an anti-
CD3 antibody fragment (scFv) that safely induces a potent Tfh and B-cell response to an immunogen to which it
is fused. The combined immunogen simultaneously targets immunogen-specific B cells and local Tfh cells, thus
accelerating and expanding B-cell development. Using the RBD immunogen in a low dose Ad35 vector, we
showed in macaques that s3 safely stimulates high NAb titers that are stable for >10 months.
The major deficiencies of current SARS-COV-2 and other vaccines (such as influenza) are limited durability and
breadth of protection, even with booster vaccination. Over the course of 6 months, serum antibodies in COVID-
naïve vaccine recipients decline by one order of magnitude. Booster vaccination confers greater durability but
notable declines in serum NAb titers occur by 4-6 months. Limited mucosal IgA responses is another major
deficit that may underlie failure of current vaccine options to prevent acquisition at the site of virus entry. Finally,
the breadth of responses is limited, even with bivalent vaccines. These vaccine deficiencies have been linked
repeatedly to inadequate T-cell help. Thus, new approaches that provide abundant T-cell help, such as the
proposed s3 approach, are needed to deliver more effective SARS-CoV-2 as well as pancoronavirus, influenza,
and other vaccines.
We will test the safety and immunogenicity of the s3 adjuvant using Ad35 as the vector and the SARS-CoV-2
BA.5 receptor-binding domain (RBD) as the immunogen. We will compare a vaccine with s3 (CoTend-s3B)
against one lacking s3 (CoTend-B). The vaccines will be given as a “booster” vaccine on the background of prior
SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccination. This approach will allow us to evaluate the ability of CoTend-s3B to (i)
boost pre-existing antibodies and (ii) recruit new naïve B cells with new specificity for BA.5 RBD.
Aim 1. Test safety of s3-adjuvanted/Tfh-targeted (CoTend-s3B) and unadjuvanted (CoTend-B) SARS-
CoV-2 RBD vaccines. The primary safety readouts are local and systemic reactions, grade 3+ adverse events
(AEs), serious adverse events, AEs of special interest (including thrombotic events), and anti-PF4 antibodies.
Aim 2. Evaluate intensity, breadth, and durability of adaptive immune responses to CoTend-s3B
compared to CoTend-B in blood and saliva. We hypothesize that Tfh responses to CoTend-s3B will support
NAb responses of sufficient breadth and potency for long-lived protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Aim 3. Examine the mechanisms of s3 adjuvant activity in germinal centers. Tfh targeting via s3 is predicted
to generate robust germinal-center reactions that democratize recruitment of naïve B cells and spur development
of long-lived plasma cells.
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