ABSTRACT
There is an urgent need for a safe and protective vaccine to control the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 and prevent COVID-19. Here, we report the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) produced from the full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein stabilized in the prefusion conformation. Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) immunized with NVX-CoV2373 and the saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant induced anti-S antibody that was neutralizing and blocked binding to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. Following intranasal and intratracheal challenge with SARS-CoV-2, immunized macaques were protected against upper and lower infection and pulmonary disease. These results support ongoing phase 1/2 clinical studies of the safety and immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2327 vaccine (NCT04368988).
Highlights
Full-length SARS-CoV-2 prefusion spike with Matrix-M1™ (NVX-CoV2373) vaccine.
Induced hACE2 receptor blocking and neutralizing antibodies in macaques.
Vaccine protected against SARS-CoV-2 replication in the nose and lungs.
Absence of pulmonary pathology in NVX-CoV2373 vaccinated macaques.
Competing Interest Statement
Authors MGX, NP, JHT, BZ, SM, KL, ADP, MJM, GG, GS and LE are current or past employees of Novavax Inc. a for-profit organization and these authors own stock or hold stock options. These interests do not alter the authors adherence to policies on sharing data and materials. MBF and PAP declare no competing interests.
