This month, Arcturus’ self-amplifying mRNA vaccine was approved for use in the UK. There were also new clinical trial results for another…
More Clinical Trial Results for Mucosal Covid Vaccines (NextGen Vax Update 31)

After a slow news month for mucosal vaccines in June, this month they take center stage again, with reports for phase 1 trials for 2 vaccines, as well as 3 preclinical reports. One of those trials is for a Project NextGen-funded vaccine, and it has some results for teenagers. That’s the CyanVac vaccine, and it looks as though its Project NextGen “mini-efficacy” (Phase 2b) trials is continuing. From what I can see, funding that had been allocated to trials that had not commenced was stopped, but trials that had already started recruiting get to finish. If that’s right, then 2 viral vector mucosal vaccine “mini-efficacy” trials are still on: CyanVac’s, as well as Vaxart’s oral vaccine (continuation publicly announced).
As usual, I have the post broken down into 3 categories of next-generation Covid vaccines as usual (definitions below) – but there was no news this month for the durable “variant-proof” category. Each section ends with an overview of vaccines in the category – and each has a link to skip over that straight to the next news section.
ICYMI:
- An introduction to self-amplifying mRNA, plus my compendium on getting ready for more mRNA fear-mongering.
- Check out my May 2024 post, “When will we get a sterilizing Covid vaccine?”
- Mucosal vaccine news
- Durable or “variant-proof” vaccines (no news this month)
- Pancoronavirus vaccine news
- Addendum 1: List of authorized vaccines (with countries)
- Addendum 2: Table of mucosal vaccines in clinical trials
- Addendum 3: Table of pancoronavirus vaccines with preclinical results
- Addendum 4: Definitions of vaccine types
Mucosal vaccine news
This month there are reports for phase 1 trials for 2 vaccines from Canada and the US, as well as 3 preclinical reports – one of which is included in the pancoronavirus section below.
Phase 1 trial results for aerosol viral vector vaccine, AeroVax (Ad5-triCoV) (McMaster University, Canada)
This is an adenovirus-based vaccine inhaled through the mouth, using several components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The goal of this method is to ensure vaccine is deposited into the lungs and major airways, to induce mucosal immunity there. The developers have a version based on chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAd) and another based on human adenovirus (HuAd). Both were included in the phase 1 trial; the ChAd version is being tested in a phase 2 trial.
This phase 1 trial is the first report of clinical results for the vaccine. There were 36 participants, who had all had at least 2 doses of mRNA vaccine at least 3 months previously. An original group of 27 had never had a confirmed case of Covid; a second group of 9 participants who had had Covid were later recruited. The trial tested a single inhaled booster dose of ChAd or HuAd, each in 4 doses. There were no serious or severe adverse events.
The trialists reported that before the AeroVax dose, participants had negligible mucosal immunity in their lungs from their previous mRNA vaccination. AeroVax induced mucosal immunity, with superior results from the ChAd version. The trialists concluded that the optimum dose of ChAd “can effectively generate tripartite respiratory mucosal immunity in humans, consisting of CD8 T cell immunity, trained innate immunity, and antibody immunity.”
You can learn more about the background to this vaccine from the lead developer here, including a video. According to the website for the AeroVax phase 2 trial as I was writing this post, the trial is still recruiting at McMaster University: The target size for the trial is 350 participants. (Records in my collection for this vaccine are here.)
Phase 1 trial results for intranasal viral vector vaccine, CVXGA1 (CyanVac/Blue Lake Biotech, USA)
This is an intranasal viral vector vaccine, based on parainfluenza 5 (PIV5). This new report from their phase 1 trial are the first detailed clinical results published for the vaccine. The developers have issued press releases about the results of their phase 1 and phase 2a trials, and the vaccine is in a Project NextGen-funded “mini-efficacy” (phase 2b) trial. (Press release on the 227-participant phase 2a trial are here: All records in my collection here.)
There were 72 participants in the phase 1 trial, including 17 aged between 12 and 17 who had either been previously infected with Covid or vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine. There were 3 groups of adults, including some without previous Covid vaccination or confirmed Covid, and some who had previously been vaccinated with mRNA vaccine.
The participants received a single intranasal dose, and no serious or severe adverse events were reported. The most common local reaction was a runny nose, in 25% of participants.
The trialists reported that the vaccine induced cell-mediated immunity as well as antibodies in nasal mucus, and this was dose-dependent (higher in the high dose group). The impact on serum immunity was modest.
Preclinical results for mucosal vaccines
- Protein subunit vaccine from Jeonbuk National University (South Korea): This is the first preclinical report for this vaccine. The vaccine was tested in injected and intranasal versions in mice, with and without adjuvant. There was also a feasibility test of an inhaled version. A Covid challenge test was done on a group of mice vaccinated by injection, then receiving an intranasal booster. In addition, the developers experimented with human immune cells. They concluded that the vaccine was immunogenic in mice, including versions without external adjuvants.
- The Oxford Uni-developed AstraZeneca viral vector vaccine, ChAdOx1, in a study at the NIH (USA): This study in mice was conducted at the NIH, not by the vaccine’s developers. They tested an intranasal dose of the original ChAdOx1 as a booster after mRNA vaccination, comparing it to mRNA vaccination alone. (It is based on chimpanzee adenovirus.) The researchers concluded that “While both vaccination regimens provided protection across the entire respiratory tract at 2 weeks post-vaccination, at 12 weeks post-vaccination, only the mice that received a mucosal vaccination remained protected in the [upper respiratory tract].” Both groups of mice were protected in a Covid challenge test at day 14, but only those with the intranasal booster still showed protection of the upper respiratory tract at a challenge test on day 84.
Skip ahead to next news category
Mucosal Covid vaccine overview
- 5 mucosal vaccines are currently authorized for use, at least 1 in each of 6 countries. However, none have been authorized by a drug regulatory agency designated stringent, or listed, by WHO.
- 34 mucosal vaccines have reached clinical trial, although some of the vaccines are no longer in development. The vaccines that have entered clinical trials are tracked in a table below. They are mostly viral vector vaccines.
- In addition to the 5 authorized mucosal vaccines, 5 have reached phase 2 trials, and another 2 have reached phase 2/3 trial.
US Project NextGen-funded trials in this category – 3 that started seem to be continuing:
- Phase 1 for MPV/S-2P, the intranasal viral vector vaccine developed by the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This trial for 60 participants began recruiting in July 2024, and finished recruiting by early 2025.
- Phase 2b for the oral viral vector vaccine from Vaxart (trial start announced at the end of September 2024; trial registration here) – this grant was not cancelled and the trial is proceeding; and
- Phase 2b for the intranasal viral vector vaccine from CyanVac/Blue Lake Biotech (trial started in December 2024, trial registration here) – this trial appears to be proceeding.
- 2 trials are apparently not going ahead: A Phase 2b (“mini-efficacy”) for the intranasal protein subunit vaccine from Castlevax – this grant was paused and may be terminated. Another for the intranasal live attenuated vaccine from Codagenix has not apparently started.
Durable or “variant-proof” vaccines
No news in this category this month.
Skip ahead to next news category
Durable or “variant-proof” vaccine overview
Note: This is a rather vague category, including vaccines that aim to be more durable. I’m not sure how many can be classified as aiming to be “variant-proof”.
Authorized vaccine:
There is one vaccine in this category that has been authorized by a drug regulatory authority designated by WHO has stringent, or listed – and tested against an mRNA vaccine:
- LUNAR-COV19 (USA), trade name Kostaive: This self-amplifying mRNA vaccine was authorized in Japan in November 2023, with rollout in October 2024. It was also authorized for Europe in February 2025. Application for authorization in the UK planned next.
US Project NextGen-funded trials in this category:
- Phase 1 for TNX-1800 from Tonix (aiming for lifelong immunity) (planned to go into clinical trial in 2024 – no recent news);
- Funding was terminated for the Phase 2b (“mini-efficacy”) trial for GeoVax (viral vector vaccine).
Note: Gritstone Bio was originally in line for a phase 2b trial for their self-amplifying mRNA vaccine. However, the company declared bankruptcy and in January 2025, their assets were sold.
Pancoronavirus vaccine news
There are new preclinical reports for 2 vaccines this month. And in related news, there’s a new preclinical report of a pan-merbecovirus vaccine – the MERS family of coronaviruses – from the US.
Preclinical studies:
An mRNA vaccine from the University of California Irvine/Techimmune (USA): This new report is the third for this vaccine, and it was available in a preprint in April. (All records for this vaccine here.) The vaccine was tested in mice, including Delta and Omicron challenge tests.
Intranasal protein subunit vaccine, FP-HR5-NP from Sun Yat-sen University (China): This new preclinical report is the second for this vaccine. (The first, on an earlier vaccine version, is here.) It is based on components that are found in Covid variants and other sarbecoviruses. The developers describe testing the vaccine in mice, with Delta and Omicron challenge tests. A 3-dose regimen provided protection, but a 2-dose one did not.
Pancoronavirus vaccine overview
A table below this post keeps track of vaccines I’ve added to this category so far that have publicly available preclinical results. Of these vaccines, 7 have reached phase 1 clinical trials, and 1 has reached phase 2, with some results for 3 of them marked *:
- * CoronaTcP (Gylden Pharma, UK/US) – protein subunit. (Note: This vaccine was previously called PepGNP-SARSCov2, and the manufacturer was previously called Emergex.)
- DIOSynVax (Cambridge University spin-off, UK) – mRNA.
- Duke University (USA) – protein subunit.
- INSERM/Ennodc (formerly LinkInVax) (France) – protein subunit.
- Osivax (France) – protein subunit.
- * VBI Vaccines (Canada) – eVLP. [This company announced bankruptcy in late 2024.]
- * Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR, USA) – protein subunit.
US Project NextGen-funded trials in this category – no recent news on the funding for either:
- CoronaTcP (Gylden Pharma, UK/US) – protein subunit.
- Unnamed (PopVax, India) – mRNA.
Addendum 1: List of authorized next generation Covid vaccines (with countries)
There are now 7 next-generation Covid vaccines authorized in 7 countries. Only one has been authorized or approved by drug regulatory agencies designated stringent, or listed, by WHO – in bold. Authorization is pending in the European Union. I’ve listed the vaccines in 2 categories, in order of date of first authorization (or initial approval).
Mucosal:
- Razi-Cov Pars (Iran), intranasal protein subunit vaccine: Iran (October 2021).
- Sputnik (Russia), intranasal viral vector vaccine: Russia (April 2022).
- Convidecia (China), inhaled viral vector vaccine: China (September 2022), Morocco (November 2022), Indonesia (March 2023).
- iNCOVACC (USA/India), intranasal viral vector vaccine: India (September 2022).
- Pneucolin (China), intranasal viral vector vaccine: China (December 2022).
Self-amplifying mRNA:
- Gemcovac (India): India (June 2022).
- Kostaive (LUNAR-COV19) (USA): Japan (November 2023), European Union (February 2025).
Addendum 2: Table of mucosal vaccines in clinical trials
* Indicates new entry since previous update post.
Note: Where there is a link to “All records” for a vaccine, that’s in my public Zotero collection for the vaccine, and it may include non-mucosal studies for that vaccine. Notes on that collection are here. For details on how I track Covid vaccine progress to maintain that collection, see my background post.
| Vaccine, type, manufacturer | Mucosal version(s) | Phase 1 to 2 clinical trials | Phase 3+ trial(s) | Phase 3+ efficacy or immunogenicity results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACM-001 Protein subunit ACM Biolabs (Singapore/Switzerland) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Results (press release only) | ||
| Ad5-nCoV (Convidecia Air) Viral vector (adenovirus) CanSino (China) (All records) | Inhaled through the mouth using a nebulizer. | Phase 1. Results. Phase 1/2. Results (plus second later preprint). Phase 1/2. Results. Phase 2 (aged 6-17 years). Booster adapted for variant. | 10,420 people in China (Phase 3). Results. 1,350 people (Phase 3). 540 people, in Malaysia (Phase 3). Results. 904 people in China (Phase 4). Results. 360 people (Phase 4). 451 people (Phase 4). Results. 10,000 people in China (Phase 4). Results for 4,089 in the Ad5-nCoV arms. (Previously in preprint.) | 904 people: Comparison after 2-dose course of inactivated vax: Convidecia injection vs inhaled, protein subunit, or CoronaVac booster (Phase 4 results). Both injected & inhaled Convidecia had stronger impact on signs of immunity than the others; response after inhaled version was slower but longer-lasting than injected (which peaked then declined from day 14), better for Omicron though not as good for original virus. No measure of mucosal immunity used. 539 people (Malaysia): Signs of serum immune response were lower for inhaled Convidecia than for injected BNT/Pfizer vax at 14 days, but grew for Convidecia to similar levels. Mucosal immune response (SIgA) was greater for Convidecia; the rate of adverse reactions was lower. 451 people: Comparison of different versions adapted for variant, including a bivalent version. Booster of inhaled Convidecia after previous vaccination with inactivated vaccine. Signs of immune response to Omicron were higher for the bivalent vaccine, though lower for the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. 4,089 people, plus a 2,008 un-randomized unboosted control group: This trial tested the original vax during Omicron, with either an injected or inhaled booster. There wasn’t a significant difference between them, though the injected version fell below their ineffectiveness threshold and the inhaled one reached effectiveness despite having a smaller dose of vaccine. |
| Ad5-S Viral vector (adenovirus) State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease/Guangzhou Enbao Biomedical Technology Co (China) (All records) | Intranasal. | Infection prevention study. | ||
| AdCOVID Viral vector (adenovirus) AltImmune (USA) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Results – press release only. Discontinued after phase 1. | ||
| AdS+N Viral vector (adenovirus) ImmunityBio (USA) (All records) | Intranasal, oral capsule, or sublingual. | Phase 1 (oral). Phase 1 (sublingual). | ||
| AeroVax (Ad5-triCoV) Viral vector (adenovirus) McMaster University/Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Canada) (All records) | Aerosol. | Phase 1 (& ChAd-triCoV/Mac). * Results. Phase 2. Short protocol. Began enrolling in March 2025. | ||
| Avacc 10 Protein subunit Intravacc (Netherlands) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Results (press release only) | ||
| bacTRL-Spike-1 Live attenuated Symvivo (Canada) (All records) | Oral. | Phase 1. | ||
| BBV154 (iNCOVACC) Viral vector (adenovirus) Bharat Biotech (India) (All records) This vaccine is ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S Washington University in St Louis (USA) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Phase 2. Small amount of data from these trials in the drug product information. Phase 2/3. Phase 2. | In India, 2-dose course of BBV154 vs 2-dose course of injected Covaxin inactivated vaccine (Phase 3 – and here). Results (previously in preprint). See also the drug product information. 875 people in India, booster trial (Phase 3). Results. | 2,971 previously unvaxed people were assigned for the intranasal iNCOVACC, 161 for injected Covaxin. This trial did not aim to assess disease outcomes. It took place during the first Omicron wave. Signs of immune response were higher for iNCOVACC than Covaxin. Adverse events rate very low (5% local and 3% systemic) – lower than for comparison group. 875 previously vaxed people were boosted with iNCOVACC, Covaxin (inactivated vax) or Covishield (AstraZeneca viral vector vax). Not large enough to detect a difference in immune response. Lower rate of adverse reactions than Covishield. |
| B/HPIV3/S-6P Viral vector (parainfluenza) NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (USA) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Fully recruited by early July 2024. | ||
| BV-AdCoV-1 Viral vector (adenovirus) Wuhan BravoVax (China) (All records) | Inhaled through the mouth using a nebulizer. | Phase 1. | ||
| ChAdOx1 Viral vector (adenovirus) Oxford University (UK) (This is the AstraZeneca vax) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Phase 1. Results. | ||
| CoV2-OGEN1 Protein subunit US Specialty Formulations/VaxForm (USA) (All records) | Oral. | Phase 1. (Fully recruited, final dose in November 2022.) Press release stating successful (without data) and progressing to phase 2 trial. | ||
| COVI-VAC Live attenuated Codagenix (USA, with the Serum Institute of India) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Press release in 2021 stating successful (without data) and progressing to phase 2/3. Preliminary results (conference abstract in 2021) and in a 2022 press release. Results in 2023 (press release only). Phase 1 (booster). | Phase 2/3, as part of the WHO Solidarity Trial for Vaccines in Mali, Colombia, Kenya, Philippines, Sierra Leone. Fully recruited by July 2024. (Protocol.) | |
| CVXGA1-001 Viral vector (parainfluenza) CyanVac/Blue Lake Biotech (USA) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. * Results (formerly in press release only). Phase 2. Results (press release only). Phase 2b. | ||
| dNS1-RBD (Pneucolin) Viral vector (influenza) Beijing Wantai BioPharm (China) (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Phase 2. Joint results. Phase 1 (age 3-17). Results. | 30,990 participants in Colombia, Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam. Results (previously in preprint.) 5,400 participants in Ghana (Phase 3). | Comparison of 2 doses of intranasal vaccine 14 days apart, with placebo control, during circulation of Omicron. Included >13,000 previously unvaccinated people. Efficacy shown 90 days after 2nd dose. There was some decline at 180 days. Efficacy against symptomatic Covid: No previous vax: 55.2% (CI 13.8 to 76.7) Inactivated: 38.2% (CI -49.2 to 74.4) Viral vector: 39.9% (CI -16.7 to 69.1) mRNA: 10.1% (CI -45.9 to 44.5) Efficacy against severe Covid: No previous vax: 66.7% (CI 8.3 to 87.9) Inactivated: 54.6% (CI -47.3 to 86.0) Viral vector: 50.0% (CI -6.8 to 76.6) mRNA: 19.5% (CI -39.2 to 53.4) Efficacy against hospitalization: 100% (CI -9.2 to 100) Adverse events were very low – similar to placebo. Less than 8% of people had a runny and/or blocked nose or sore throat. |
| FINCoVac Viral vector (adenovirus) Rokote Laboratories (Finland) | Intranasal. | Phase 1, 2nd registry record. | ||
| GAM-COVID-VAC (rAd26-S – Sputnik Light) Viral vector (adenovirus) Gamaleya Research Institute (Russia) | Intranasal. | Phase 1/2. | 7,000 participants in Russia (Phase 3 or phase 2/3 – not clear). | |
| GLS-5301 DNA GeneOne Life Science (South Korea) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Results. | ||
| LVT001 Protein subunit LovalTech (France) | Intranasal. | Phase 1/2. | ||
| Mambisa Protein subunit Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (CIGB) (Cuba) (All records) | Intranasal drops. | Phase 1/2. Phase 1/2. Results. Phase 2. | ||
| MPV/S-2P Viral vector (murine pneumonia) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (USA) (All records) | Intranasal drops. | Phase 1. | ||
| MV-014-212 Viral vector (RSV) Meissa Vaccines (USA) (All records) | Intranasal drops or spray. | Phase 1. Results (press release). | This vaccine is in limbo because of the company’s financial difficulties. | |
| MVA-SARS-2ST Viral vector (MVA) German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)/IDT Biologika (All records) | Inhalation. | Phase 1. | ||
| NB2155 Viral vector (Adenovirus 5) Guangzhou Medical University/ Guangzhou National Laboratory (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. | ||
| CVAX-01 Viral vector (Newcastle Disease Virus) Castlevax/Icahn Mt Sinai (All records) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Results (press release). | ||
| Ad5-S-Omicron BA.1 Viral vector (Adenovirus 5) Guangzhou Medical University/Guangzhou National Laboratory (China) (All records) | Intranasal | Phase 1. Results. | ||
| Patria (NDV-HXP-S/AVX-COVID-12-HEXAPRO) Viral vector (Newcastle Disease Virus) Laboratorio Avi-Mex (Mexico) (All records on Patria, see also CVAX-01 for early development.) | Intranasal. | Phase 1. Results. Phase 2. Results. (Previously available in preprint.) | Phase 2/3 for injected version only: Results. (Previously available in preprint.) | |
| PRAK-03202 Protein subunit Oravax (USA) [Oravax was established by OraMed (Israel) to develop this vaccine, using Premas Biotech’s PRAK-03202 and their oral vaccine technology] (All records on oral PRAK-03202, and on intramuscular version) | Oral. | Phase 1 (in South Africa). Results (press release only). | ||
| Razi-Cov Pars Protein subunit Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute (Iran) (All records) | Intranasal (third dose after 2 injections). | Phase 1. Results. Phase 2. Results. Phase 1 to 2 (in 12-17 year-olds). Phase 4 (Booster). Results. Phase 1 to 2 (in 5-17 year-olds). | 41,128 people in Iran, comparing the 3-dose course to 2-dose inactivated Sinopharm Beijing vax, only partially randomized (Phase 3). Results (Previous media report for the first 24,000 participants.) | Phase 3: The authors concluded Razi-Cov Pars was non-inferior to the inactivated vaccine, with similarly very low adverse events. However, the trial could not establish whether there was an advantage to an intranasal dose. Phase 4: Immunogenicity and safety study of intranasal booster in 195 people, placebo-controlled. Increased IgA and IgG anti-RBD in nasal mucosa, but not in serum and saliva. |
| SC-Ad6-1 Viral vector (adenovirus) Moat Bio/Tetherex (USA) (All records) | Intranasal and inhaled. | Phase 1. Trial expanded to add an inhaled version (from 130 to 190 people). Results so far briefly mentioned in press release. | ||
| SpikoGen Protein subunit Vaxine (Australia) (All records on mucosal and on all forms.) | Oral/sublingual. | Phase 1. | ||
| (Unnamed) Inactivated bacteria DreamTec (Hong Kong) (All records) | Oral. | Phase 1. Phase 1. Phase 1. Note: An article of preclinical results has been retracted over lack of ethics committee approval. | ||
| VXA-CoV2-1/VXA-CoV2-1.1-S Viral vector (adenovirus) Vaxart (USA) (All records) | Tablets. | Phase 1. Results. Phase 2. (Started October 1, 2021.) Results (press release). Additional brief results in presentation. Phase 2b. (Start announced September 30, 2024.) |
Addendum 3: Pancoronavirus vaccines with preclinical results
| Developer Country Vaccine name | Type of: Vaccine Coronavirus | Preclinical results | Clinical trial status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academia Sinica Taiwan (Taiwan) (Unnamed) | mRNA All | Non-primate | |
| Baylor College of Medicine (USA) (Unnamed) | Protein subunit Beta | Non-primate | |
| Beijing University of Chemical Technology (China) (Unnamed) | Live attenuated pangolin coronavirus All | Non-primate | |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center USA RhAd52.CoV.Consv | Viral vector Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Ingenza USA, UK Mosaic-8b | Protein subunit Beta | Non-primate Non-primate Primate, non-primate Non-primate (previously in preprint) Non-primate (previously in preprint) Primate and non-primate Non-primate | |
| Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Germany NILV-PanCoVac | Viral vector All | Non-primate (mucosal) | |
| China Cuba Joint Innovation Center China, Cuba PanCoV1, PanCoV2 | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate (mucosal) Non-primate (mucosal) Non-primate (mucosal) Non-primate (mucosal) Non-primate (mucosal) Primate (mucosal) | |
| Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology China Unnamed | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| Codiak USA exoVACC Pan Beta Coronavirus | Protein subunit Beta | Article on development Non-primate (conference slides) Non-primate (conference slides) | (This company began proceedings in bankruptcy court. See news.) |
| DIOSynvax UK DIOS-CoVax/ pEVAC-PS | mRNA Sarbeco | Non-primate Non-primate Non-primate (a different vaccine) | Phase 1 trial (incl. protocol). (Up to 36 participants in the UK) Began December 2021. Fully recruited. Expanded to another city – no trial register entry found. |
| Duke University USA Cov-RBD-scNP-001 | Protein subunit Beta | Primate Primate, non-primate Non-primate (previously in preprint) Primate, non-primate | US government grant terminated in March 2025. Phase 1 trial. (Up to 51 people in the US) Not yet recruiting. |
| Francis Crick Institute UK (Unnamed) | Protein subunit with DNA boost All | Non-primate | |
| Fudan University China HR1LS | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Primate, non-primate Primate Primate Non-primate | |
| Georgia State University, University of Iowa USA SARS2-S (SARS-RBD) | mRNA Sarbeco | Non-primate Non-primate | |
| Georgia State University USA Om-S-MERS-RBD | Protein subunit All | Non-primate | |
| Georgia State University USA (Unnamed) | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate Primate, non-primate Non-primate | |
| Guangdong Pharmaceutical University China (Unnamed) | Protein subunit All | Non-primate | |
| Gylden Pharma (formerly Emergex) UK/USA CoronaTcP | Protein subunit Beta | Phase 1 trial (26 participants in Switzerland) Results. (Formerly preprint) Phase 1/2 trial (Up to 110 participants in the Philippines) (Not yet recruiting) | |
| Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology South Korea (Unnamed) | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| INSERM Vaccine Research Institute/Ennodc (formerly LinKinVax) France PanCov (CD40.CoV2/RBDv) | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate Primate, non-primate Primate Non-primate (conference poster) Non-primate | Phase 1/2 trial (Up to 240 participants in France) Booster trial; began recruiting in May 2024. |
| Johns Hopkins University USA Unnamed | Viral vector Sarbeco | Primate, non-primate | |
| Mynvax Private India Unnamed | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| National University of Singapore Singapore Clec9A-RBD | Protein subunit Sarbeco | ||
| Osivax France OVX033 | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate | Phase 1 trial (48 participants in France) First participant vaccinated in February 2024. Fully recruited in June 2024. |
| Oxford University UK ChAdOx1.COVconsv12 | Viral vector Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| Pennsylvania State University USA (Unnamed) | Protein subunit All | Non-primate | |
| Scripps Research Institute USA (Unnamed) | Protein subunit Beta | Non-primate | |
| Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University China rTTV-RBD-HA2 | Viral vector Beta (plus influenza) | Non-primate (mucosal) | |
| SK Bioscience/ Uni of Washington/Uni of North Carolina at Chapel Hill South Korea, USA GBP511 | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Primate, non-primate (testing Covid vaccine GBP510 against other sarbecoviruses) | More on plans for adapting this vaccine – GBP510 authorized as SKYCovione. See the University of Washington research listed below in this table. |
| Stanford University/DXVX USA/South Korea DX-DRG-B05 | Virus-like particle Beta | Non-primate Primate Erratum (correction to legend in a figure). Non-primate Non-primate (previously preprint) | Phase 1 clinical trials completed in the US (registered here) and South Africa (registered here), and planning underway for phase 2 trials in 2026 in South Korea, elsewhere in Asia, and the US. |
| State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease Guangzhou Medical University China (Unnamed) | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Primate and non-primate | |
| Sun Yat-Sen University China FP-HR5-NP | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate (mucosal) * Non-primate (mucosal) | |
| Sun Yat-Sen University/Guangzhou Medical University China 3Rs-NC | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate (mucosal) | |
| University of Amsterdam Netherlands (Unnamed) | Virus-like particle Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| University of California Irvine/Techimmune USA (Unnamed) | Viral vector Beta | Non-primate (previously in preprint) Non-primate (mucosal) (previously in preprint) Non-primate * Non-primate (previously in preprint) (There was also a paper about this vaccine’s development in 2021.) | US government grant terminated in March 2025. |
| University of Houston/Auravax USA NanoSTING-NS | Protein subunit (intranasal) Sarbeco | Non-primate Non-primate Non-primate Primate, non-primate | |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill USA (Unnamed) | Viral vector Sarbeco | Non-primate (Previously in preprint) | |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill USA (Unnamed) | mRNA Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| University of Sydney Australia CoVEXS5 | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| University of Toronto Canada (Unnamed) | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| University of Washington USA (Unnamed) | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate (Previously in preprint) Non-primate Non-primate (MERS vaccine developed on the same platform as GBP511.) | (See “GBP511” above in this table.) |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison (PanCorVac) USA (Unnamed) | Protein subunit All | Non-primate Non-primate Non-primate Non-primate (previously in preprint) | US government grant terminated in March 2025. |
| VBI Vaccines Canada VBI-2901 | eVLP All | Non-primate Non-primate (Press release) | This company declared bankruptcy in late 2024. Phase 1 trial (103 participants in Canada) Began October 2022. Fully recruited. (Further background info.) Results (press release only). (101 participants) Previously vaccinated people boosted with 2 low or high doses, or 1 high-dose. Limited data reported. Some signs of immune response to a range of coronaviruses, mostly lasting at least 5 months. No major safety concerns. |
| Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan Canada Unnamed | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate | |
| Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) USA SpFN/ALFQ | Protein subunit Beta | Non-primate Non-primate Non-primate (incl RFN) Non-primate Primate Primate Primate (with J&J vax) | Phase 1 trial (US) Began April 2021, with 29 participants, including some on placebo. Results. Vaxed participants showed immune responses to several Covid variants and several sarbecoviruses, but no signs of response to MERS. |
| Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) USA RFN | Protein subunit Beta | Non-primate (incl SpFN) Primate | |
| Washington University in St Louis USA (Unnamed) | Viral vector Sarbeco | Non-primate (mucosal) | |
| Yale University USA (Unnamed) | mRNA All | Non-primate Non-primate | |
| Yale University/Xanadu Bio USA (Unnamed) | Protein subunit Sarbeco | Non-primate Non-primate |
Addendum 4: Definitions of vaccine types
- Mucosal vaccines: These enter the body the way the virus does – through mucosal tissues. It’s hoped that provides defence against infection. They can be administered via different routes – squirts or drops in the nose, inhaled through the mouth through a nebulizer (similar to an asthma medication), or in tablet, capsule, or sublingual form.
- Pan-SARS-CoV-2 or “variant-proof” vaccines: These aim to provide protection against any variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.
- Pancoronavirus vaccines aim to protect against coronaviruses more broadly – sometimes called “universal coronavirus vaccine.” These vaccines can be targeted to:
– the “subgroup” the 2 SARS viruses came from (the sarbecovirus subgenus),
– coronaviruses from the next level up (the genus, betacoronavirus, which includes MERS as well as the sarbecoviruses), or
– up to the whole coronavirus family, which has 4 genuses, including betacoronavirus and alphacoronavirus (with more common cold viruses).
I classify a vaccine as a pancoronavirus one when the developers are explicitly targeting coronaviruses more broadly than SARS-CoV-2, and have tested for signs of response to non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus(es) (or clearly plan to).
You can keep up with my work at my newsletter, Living With Evidence. And I’m active on Mastodon: @hildabast@mastodon.online and less so on BlueSky (hildabast.bsky.social).
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For details on how I track Covid vaccine progress, see my background post. Notes on my collection of studies are here. The collection is in a public Zotero library you can dig into here.
Previous update posts specifically on next generation Covid vaccines prior to this monthly series (beginning May 2023):
- Mucosal vaccines (March 2022)
- Pan-SARS-Cov-2 and pancoronavirus (July 2022)
- Mucosal vaccines (July 2022)
- Mucosal vaccines (September 2022)
- Mucosal vaccines (April 2023)
- Pancoronavirus vaccines (April 2023)
All my posts on Covid vaccines, beginning from March 2020, are tagged here.
All previous Covid-19 posts at Absolutely Maybe
My posts at The Atlantic and at WIRED.
Disclosures: My interest in Covid-19 vaccine trials began as a person worried about the virus, as my son was immunocompromised: I have no financial or professional interest in the vaccines. I have worked for an institute of the NIH in the past, but not one working on vaccines. More about me.
The cartoon is my own (CC BY-NC-ND license). (More cartoons at Statistically Funny.)
I just wanted to thank you for this blog. It is so helpful for staying abreast of mucosal vaccine development, something that is very important to many of us.
Echoing naj — thank you. With respect and appreciation,
Thank you, both!