Altimmune signs up Lonza to manufacture intranasal COVID-19 vaccine

Image source: Lonza.

Altimmune adds Lonza as a manufacturing partner for supply of AdCOVID, its single-dose intranasal vaccine candidate for COVID-19.

AdCOVID is a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine candidate that has the potential to be conveniently administered via an intranasal spray, thus providing an easier route of administration than an injection and so eliminates the need for administration by trained medical personnel.

In addition to activating systemic immunity (neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses), the vaccine candidate stimulates a type of localized immunity called mucosal immunity, which can act to prevent both SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and transmission.

In preclinical studies, AdCOVID produced a 29-fold increase in mucosal IgA, well above the level associated with protection observed in several clinical studies from influenza, another respiratory virus.

Based on clinical experience with the Altimmune’s vaccine platform technology, AdCOVID is expected to provide durable immunity of up to a year or more following a single dose.

Based on data from Altimmune’s other platform vaccines, AdCOVID is expected to have extended stability at room temperature allowing for cold chain-free distribution of the vaccine where it can then be stored in the common refrigerators found in community-based doctor’s offices and pharmacies for 2 years or more. The simple and convenient handling requirements may greatly increase the number of people willing to take the vaccine.

Dr Vyjoo Krishnan, Vice President of Product Development, Altimmune said they are "actively focused" on expanding its network of strategic manufacturing partners to ensure Altimmune’s commercial readiness to supply vaccine in 2021 should clinical data support this advancement.