scholarly journals Review of Current Vaccine Development Strategies to Prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 800-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bindu M. Bennet ◽  
Jayanthi Wolf ◽  
Rodrigo Laureano ◽  
Rani S. Sellers

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak that started in Wuhan, China, in 2019 resulted in a pandemic not seen for a century, and there is an urgent need to develop safe and efficacious vaccines. The scientific community has made tremendous efforts to understand the disease, and unparalleled efforts are ongoing to develop vaccines and treatments. Toxicologists and pathologists are involved in these efforts to test the efficacy and safety of vaccine candidates. Presently, there are several SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in clinical trials, and the pace of vaccine development has been highly accelerated to meet the urgent need. By 2021, efficacy and safety data from clinical trials are expected, and potentially a vaccine will be available for those most at risk. This review focuses on the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development efforts with emphasis on the nonclinical safety assessment and discusses emerging preliminary data from nonclinical and clinical studies. It also provides a brief overview on vaccines for other coronaviruses, since experience gained from these can be useful in the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. This review will also explain why, despite this unprecedented pace of vaccine development, rigorous standards are in place to ensure nonclinical and clinical safety and efficacy. [Box: see text]

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suraj B. Sable ◽  
James E. Posey ◽  
Thomas J. Scriba

SUMMARY Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading killer among all infectious diseases worldwide despite extensive use of the Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. A safer and more effective vaccine than BCG is urgently required. More than a dozen TB vaccine candidates are under active evaluation in clinical trials aimed to prevent infection, disease, and recurrence. After decades of extensive research, renewed promise of an effective vaccine against this ancient airborne disease has recently emerged. In two innovative phase 2b vaccine clinical trials, one for the prevention of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in healthy adolescents and another for the prevention of TB disease in M. tuberculosis-infected adults, efficacy signals were observed. These breakthroughs, based on the greatly expanded knowledge of the M. tuberculosis infection spectrum, immunology of TB, and vaccine platforms, have reinvigorated the TB vaccine field. Here, we review our current understanding of natural immunity to TB, limitations in BCG immunity that are guiding vaccinologists to design novel TB vaccine candidates and concepts, and the desired attributes of a modern TB vaccine. We provide an overview of the progress of TB vaccine candidates in clinical evaluation, perspectives on the challenges faced by current vaccine concepts, and potential avenues to build on recent successes and accelerate the TB vaccine research-and-development trajectory.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 747
Author(s):  
Ralf Wagner ◽  
Eberhard Hildt ◽  
Elena Grabski ◽  
Yuansheng Sun ◽  
Heidi Meyer ◽  
...  

Multiple preventive COVID-19 vaccines have been developed during the ongoing SARS coronavirus (CoV) 2 pandemic, utilizing a variety of technology platforms, which have different properties, advantages, and disadvantages. The acceleration in vaccine development required to combat the current pandemic is not at the expense of the necessary regulatory requirements, including robust and comprehensive data collection along with clinical product safety and efficacy evaluation. Due to the previous development of vaccine candidates against the related highly pathogenic coronaviruses SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the antigen that elicits immune protection is known: the surface spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 or specific domains encoded in that protein, e.g., the receptor binding domain. From a scientific point of view and in accordance with legal frameworks and regulatory practices, for the approval of a clinic trial, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut requires preclinical testing of vaccine candidates, including general pharmacology and toxicology as well as immunogenicity. For COVID-19 vaccine candidates, based on existing platform technologies with a sufficiently broad data base, pharmacological–toxicological testing in the case of repeated administration, quantifying systemic distribution, and proof of vaccination protection in animal models can be carried out in parallel to phase 1 or 1/2 clinical trials. To reduce the theoretical risk of an increased respiratory illness through infection-enhancing antibodies or as a result of Th2 polarization and altered cytokine profiles of the immune response following vaccination, which are of specific concern for COVID-19 vaccines, appropriate investigative testing is imperative. In general, phase 1 (vaccine safety) and 2 (dose finding, vaccination schedule) clinical trials can be combined, and combined phase 2/3 trials are recommended to determine safety and efficacy. By applying these fundamental requirements not only for the approval and analysis of clinical trials but also for the regulatory evaluation during the assessment of marketing authorization applications, several efficacious and safe COVID-19 vaccines have been licensed in the EU by unprecedentedly fast and flexible procedures. Procedural and regulatory–scientific aspects of the COVID-19 licensing processes are described in this review.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 791-796
Author(s):  
Ilir Alimehmeti

SARS-CoV-2, the beta coronavirus causing COVID-19, was isolated and categorizes as a novel one on January 7th, 2020 in China.[1] To date, official reports depict that SARS-CoV-2 has already infected 88.828.387 persons and caused 1.926.625 deaths worldwide.[2] On January 12th, 2020, China officials made public its genetic sequence, thus paving the way towards the research and development of diagnostic tests and vaccines. With regard to vaccination, e large number of clinical trials were designed and are currently undergoing, of which 189 are listed in ClinicalTrials.gov. [3] However, up to date, only three vaccines have published their respective phase III clinical trial results in peer-reviewed medical journals. [4-6] Vaccines are needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with Covid-19, and multiple vaccine platforms as AZD1222 (AstraZeneca) [4], BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) [5] and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) have been involved in the rapid development of vaccine candidates. Methodology: In this review, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, medRxiv, and bioRxiv were systematically scrutinized for peer-reviewed and preprint articles on phase III clinical trials of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. In total, only three peer-reviewed papers fulfilling the search criteria were identified. Conclusions; All vaccine candidates should publish in peer-reviewed journals their efficacy and safety well before requesting approval to the national or international authorities…


F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Voss ◽  
Danilo Casimiro ◽  
Olivier Neyrolles ◽  
Ann Williams ◽  
Stefan H.E. Kaufmann ◽  
...  

The Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine can provide decades of protection against tuberculosis (TB) disease, and although imperfect, BCG is proof that vaccine mediated protection against TB is a possibility. A new TB vaccine is, therefore, an inevitability; the question is how long will it take us to get there? We have made substantial progress in the development of vaccine platforms, in the identification of antigens and of immune correlates of risk of TB disease. We have also standardized animal models to enable head-to-head comparison and selection of candidate TB vaccines for further development.  To extend our understanding of the safety and immunogenicity of TB vaccines we have performed experimental medicine studies to explore route of administration and have begun to develop controlled human infection models. Driven by a desire to reduce the length and cost of human efficacy trials we have applied novel approaches to later stage clinical development, exploring alternative clinical endpoints to prevention of disease outcomes. Here, global leaders in TB vaccine development discuss the progress made and the challenges that remain. What emerges is that, despite scientific progress, few vaccine candidates have entered clinical trials in the last 5 years and few vaccines in clinical trials have progressed to efficacy trials. Crucially, we have undervalued the knowledge gained from our “failed” trials and fostered a culture of risk aversion that has limited new funding for clinical TB vaccine development. The unintended consequence of this abundance of caution is lack of diversity of new TB vaccine candidates and stagnation of the clinical pipeline. We have a variety of new vaccine platform technologies, mycobacterial antigens and animal and human models.  However, we will not encourage progression of vaccine candidates into clinical trials unless we evaluate and embrace risk in pursuit of vaccine development.


2006 ◽  
Vol 121 (7) ◽  
pp. 615-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
S E J Farmer ◽  
R Eccles

The surgical management of inferior turbinate enlargement is controversial. Submucosal electrosurgical techniques for turbinate reduction include conventional diathermy, radiofrequency tissue reduction and coblation. All electrosurgical techniques use radiofrequency electricity to damage turbinate tissue but differ in the control and delivery of energy. This review will examine the history of submucosal electrosurgery and clarify the various techniques. This review will also examine the evidence for the efficacy and safety of electrosurgery for the treatment of nasal turbinate enlargement, and will make a case that no progress will be made in clinical trials on the safety and efficacy unless there is standardisation of equipment and techniques in nasal electrosurgery.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arvin Ighani ◽  
Jorge R. Georgakopoulos ◽  
Linda L. Zhou ◽  
Scott Walsh ◽  
Neil Shear ◽  
...  

Background: Apremilast is a new oral drug for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis that reduces inflammation by inhibiting phosphodiesterase 4. Its efficacy and safety data are limited; hence, real-world outcomes are important for elucidating the full spectrum of its adverse events (AEs) and expanding generalizability of clinical trial findings. Objective: Assess the efficacy and safety of apremilast monotherapy in real-world practice. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in 2 academic dermatology practices. Efficacy was measured as the proportion of patients achieving a ≥75% reduction from baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI-75) or a Psoriasis Global Assessment (PGA) score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) at 16 weeks. Safety was measured as the proportion of patients reporting ≥1 AE at 16 weeks. Results: Thirty-four patients were included. Efficacy: 19 patients (55.9%) achieved PASI-75 or PGA 0/1. Safety: 23 patients (67.6%) experienced ≥1 AEs. Five patients (14.7%) withdrew treatment prior to week 16 due to AEs. One patient withdrew treatment due to mood lability and depression. Common AEs included headache (32.4%), nausea (20.6%), diarrhoea (14.7%), weight loss (8.8%), and loose stool (8.8%). Conclusion: Apremilast monotherapy had higher efficacy with similar safety outcomes in the real world compared to clinical trials. There were higher proportions of reported headaches compared to clinical trials. This study supports the apremilast monotherapy clinical trial findings, suggesting that it has an acceptable safety profile and significantly reduces the severity of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Limitations include the retrospective nature of the study.


2020 ◽  
pp. 014556132098019
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Kovacs ◽  
Nithin D. Adappa ◽  
Edward C. Kuan

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common sinonasal disorder which results in significant inflammation in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Topical nasal steroids play an important role in the treatment of CRS. Exhalation delivery system with fluticasone (EDS-FLU) utilizes a patient’s forced exhalation to power the delivery of topical steroids to deeper areas of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses most affected by CRS. This review focuses on evidence surrounding the safety and efficacy of the EDS-FLU system. Methods: Literature search was conducted of articles investigating the safety and efficacy of EDS-FLU. Relevant efficacy and safety data were examined and summarized from the studies. Results: The efficacy and safety of EDS-FLU in CRS, both with and without polyps, has been established in open-label and placebo-controlled phase 3 trials. There was significant improvement in the cardinal symptoms of CRS and subjective patient-reported outcomes scores. Additionally, there was objective improvement in sinonasal inflammation as measured by polyp grade. Recent studies have also established significant improvement in health status and general quality of life following treatment using EDS-FLU. Emerging data have also examined patients who have previously had endoscopic sinus surgery and on appropriate medical therapy and noted improvement in polyp burden and overall Lund-Kennedy scores after using EDS-FLU. Conclusion: Exhalation delivery system with fluticasone demonstrates significant results in both patient-oriented outcomes and objective measures of sinonasal inflammation in patients with CRS with and without polyps. Further research is needed to investigate the long-term outcomes of EDS-FLU and to compare the effects of EDS-FLU with ESS. Exhalation delivery system with fluticasone provides an additional effective treatment modality for patients suffering from CRS.


2012 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. CGM.S7526
Author(s):  
Julien Edeline ◽  
Elodie Vauléon ◽  
Nathalie Rioux-Leclercq ◽  
Christophe Perrin ◽  
Cécile Vigneau Karim Bensalah ◽  
...  

This article reviews data on sorafenib use in renal cell carcinoma. Mechanisms of actions and pharmacokinetics are briefly described. Major clinical trials are presented, summarizing efficacy and safety of sorafenib. Its place in current treatment of renal cell carcinoma is discussed. Sorafenib is likely to remain one of the mainstays of RCC treatment in coming years.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 5608-5608
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Theodorou Diamantopoulos ◽  
Konstantinos Zervakis ◽  
Athanasios G. Galanopoulos ◽  
Panagiotis Bakarakos ◽  
Vasiliki Papadopoulou ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction The hypomethylating agent 5-azacytidine (AZA) has been the standard of care for higher risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) for the last few years. Its efficacy has been proven in large clinical trials, and its safety has been shown to be superior to that of conventional treatments. We have conducted a retrospective study about the efficacy and safety of 5-azacytidine, as reported and analyzed in our center. Patients and Methods Forty four consecutive patients with MDS or Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with 20-30% bone marrow blasts that were treated with AZA during the last 63 months were included in the study. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were recorded, and the efficacy and safety data were analyzed. Results The epidemiologic and hematologic characteristics of the patients are shown in Table 1. The median overall survival was 13 months (1-101) and there was no primary treatment failure (Table 2). Serious adverse events consisted mostly of neutropenic infections (blood stream and pneumonia) (Table 3). Discussion Treatment with AZA offered a favorable (complete and partial) response in 34.1% of the patients, and an overall survival of 13 months, with generally predictable toxicities, although hospitalization was frequently inevitable during the first treatment cycles, when supportive treatment was a significant part of the management. A valuable observation is that there was a considerable decrease in the patients’ transfusion needs following treatment (p<0.0001). Our results are consistent with the results of other clinical trials and point out the need for investigational 5-azacytidine combinations. Table 1. Epidemiologic and hematologic characteristics. Male: Female ratio 30:14 (2.1 : 1) Age, Median (Range) 73 (54-81) WHO classification of MDS/AML, N (%) RAEB-I RAEB-II RCMD-RS RCMD RARS CMML AML 9 (20.5) 18 (40.9) 2 (4.5) 3 (6.7) 1 (2.3) 4 (9.1) 7 (15.9) IPSS classification, N (%) Low Intermediate-1 Intermediate-2 High Not Applicable (AML) 0 (0) 3 (6.8) 29 (65.9) 5 (11.4) 7 (15.9) Complete Blood Count Parameters, Median (Range) Hemoglobin (g/dL) Absolute Neutrophil Count (x109/L) Platelet count (x109/L) 8.55 (4.5 - 12.5) 1.08 (0.0 – 16.3) 80.0 (2 – 820) Transfusion dependence, N (%) 39 (88.6) Transfusions per month, Median (Range) 3 (0 – 7) Table 2. Efficacy data AZA cycles, Median (Range) 5 (1-22) Actual AZA dose (mg/m2/cycle), Median (Range) 75 (59-75) Actual cycle duration (days), Median (Range) 28 (28-40) Dose reductions due to sustained neutropenia, N (%) 6 (13.6) Temporary AZA interruption, N (%) 26 (59.1) Reason Sustained cytopenia 10/26 (38.5) Neutropenic Infection 15/26 (57.7) Hemorrhagic Complication 1/26 (3.8) Permanent AZA discontinuation, N (%) 23/44 (52.3) Reason AML transformation 17/23 (73.9) Recurrent or severe infection 4/23 (17.4) Pyoderma gangrenosum 1/23 (4.3) Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation 1/23 (4.3) AZA cycles till response (according to the IWG criteria), Median (Range) 4 (1 – 7) Response (IWG criteria), N (%) Complete response Partial response Stable disease Failure 7 (15.9) 8 (18.2) 29 (65.9) 0 (0) Overall survival (months), Median (Range) 13 (1 – 101) Post treatment transfusion dependence, N (%) 34 (77.3) Transfusions per month (post-treatment), Median (Range) 1 (0 – 5) Death rate, N (%) 29/44 (65.9) Cause of death, N (%) Infection Hemorrhage Cardiac dysrhythmia 24/29 (82.8) 3/29 (10.3) 2/29 (6.9) Table 3. Safety data Clinical adverse events, N (%) 29/44 (65.9) Neutropenic Infections 26/29 (89.7) Bloodstream Infection 9/26 (34.6) Lower respiratory infection 10/26 (38.5) Neutropenic Fever 8/26 (30.1) Septic shock 2/26 (7.7) Hemorrhagic events 2/29 (6.7) Cerebral hemorrhage (Grade 5) 1/2 (50.0) Epistaxis (Grade 3) 1/2 (50.0) Other (pyoderma gangrenosum) 1/29 (3.4) Laboratory incidents1, N (%) 44/44 (100) All grades Grades 3/4 Neutropenia 36/44 (81.8) 34/44 (77.3) Anemia 44/44 (100) 24/44 (54.5) Thrombocytopenia 31/44 (70.5) 21/44 (47.7) Supportive treatment (during AZA administration), N (%) GCSF administration 16/44 (36.4) Erythropoietin administration 7/44 (15.9) Red blood cell transfusions 39/44 (88.6) Red blood cell transfusions (units/cycle), Median (range) 3 (0-7) Pooled random donor platelet transfusions 17 (38.6) 1According to the CTCAE Version 4.0 Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 1082-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott Vichinsky ◽  
Marcela Torres ◽  
Jonathan Glass ◽  
Caterina P Minniti ◽  
Stéphane Barrette ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1082 Background: Long-term efficacy and safety of the iron chelator deferasirox in SCD patients has been previously reported (Vichinsky et al. BJH 2011). Hydroxyurea (HU), a common treatment for SCD, is associated with adverse events (AEs) such as bone marrow depression. However, long-term data for iron chelation and concomitant HU are limited. This study provides further efficacy and safety data for deferasirox including PK and safety data + HU. Methods: SCD patients aged ≥2 yrs and iron overload from blood transfusions were enrolled and randomized 2:1 to deferasirox (DFX; 20 mg/kg/day) or deferoxamine (DFO; 175 mg/kg/week [wk]) for 24 wks (24-wk DFX or DFO cohort). DFO patients then crossed over to DFX; all patients received DFX up to Wk 52. Patients entered a 52-wk extension receiving DFX (DFX up to 2 yrs cohort). PK sampling was carried out pre- and 2 hrs post-dose in patients on DFX at Wk 12. Plasma concentrations of DFX and iron-complex Fe-[DFX]2 were determined using a validated LC-MS/MS method. Dose adjustments were implemented for changes in patient weight, serum ferritin, serum creatinine, liver function tests and rash. Primary objective was DFX safety compared with DFO during 24 wks. Secondary objectives included DFX safety and efficacy for up to 2 yrs and DFX safety in patients with concomitant HU. Results: 24-weeks, DFX (n=135) vs DFO (n=68). Patients were severely iron overloaded at baseline (BL); 37% had serum ferritin ≥4000 ng/mL (median 3385 ng/mL). In the DFX and DFO cohorts, respectively, 93 and 78% of patients completed 24 wks of treatment. AEs leading to discontinuation were reported by 0 and 1 (1.8%) patient in the DFX and DFO cohorts, respectively. Investigator-assessed drug-related AEs were reported in 27 and 29% of patients in the DFX vs DFO cohort, respectively; most common (>5%) were gastrointestinal (DFX vs DFO cohort: diarrhea 10.4 vs 3.6%; nausea 5.2 vs 3.6%). Serious AEs (any causality) were reported in 30 and 36% of patients in the DFX vs DFO cohort, respectively. One death occurred in the DFX cohort, not considered drug-related (patient had past history of multi-organ failure). At the 3–6 month timepoint, median change from BL in serum ferritin was –196 (range –4029 to 10,168) and –400 (range –10,001 to 3908) ng/mL for DFX (n=130) and DFO (n=58) cohorts, respectively. Up to 2 years DFX (n=188). 135 (72%) patients who received DFX completed the study; 5 (3%) patients discontinued due to AEs. Average actual dose was 21.2 ± 3.6 mg/kg/day. Most common investigator-assessed drug-related AEs (>5%) were diarrhea (11.7%), nausea (6.9%) and abdominal pain (5.3%). Drug-related serious AEs were reported in 8 (4.3%) patients; most common were increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and abnormal liver function test (n=2, for each). One additional death occurred; not considered drug-related (patient had history of congestive heart failure with worsening pulmonary hypertension). 4 patients had 2 consecutive serum creatinine increases >33% above BL and >upper limit of normal; increases were transient and resolved with dose adjustment or temporary interruption. Mean ± SE change from BL in serum ferritin (per-protocol, adjusted for amount of transfused blood) was –683 ± 205 ng/mL (n=87). PK, safety and efficacy of DFX + HU (n=28) and DFX (n=160). Mean DFX concentration (μmol/L) pre- and 2-hr post-dose were similar in patients receiving DFX + HU (n=14) vs DFX (n=81); pre-dose 13.3 vs 19.8, post-dose 74.2 vs 79.4. Mean Fe-[DFX]2 concentration (μmol/L) pre- and post-dose was similar in patients receiving DFX + HU (n=14) vs DFX (n=85); pre-dose 0.9 vs 0.6, post-dose 1.9 vs 1.7. One of 5 patients discontinuing DFX due to AEs was receiving concomitant HU. Overall the type and incidence of AEs in patients receiving DFX + HU vs DFX were similar (Table). At the 21–24 month time-point, mean change in serum ferritin was –593 ng/mL (n=15) and –721 ng/mL (n=81) for DFX + HU vs DFX cohorts, respectively. Conclusions: Consistent with previous studies, this study confirms that deferasirox has a clinically manageable safety profile, and is comparable overall with DFO in SCD patients, with many AEs related to the underlying condition (eg, sickle cell anemia with crisis, pyrexia, infections). This study confirms the long-term efficacy of deferasirox with clinically meaningful reductions in serum ferritin over 2 years. PK, efficacy and overall safety of deferasirox were not influenced by concomitant HU. Disclosures: Vichinsky: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Habr:Novartis: Employment. Lynch:Novartis: Employment. Zhang:Novartis: Employment. Files:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Medical University of South Carolina: Research contract agreement.


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