Self-Replicating mRNA Vaccine for COVID Prevention
Medscape December 13, 2024
Europe’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended granting marketing authorization for two drugs for preventing COVID-19: a monoclonal antibody called Kavigale (sipavibart) and a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine known as Kostaive (zapomeran). The recommendations are now in line for approval by the European Commission.
The active ingredient in Kavigale is sipavibart, which is an immunoglobulin, antiviral monoclonal antibody that provides passive immunization against SARS-CoV-2 by binding its spike protein receptor binding domain.
Kostaive’s active substance is zapomeran, a self-replicating mRNA that encodes the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. It makes more copies of itself once inside host cells following intramuscular injection. The cells can then make copies of the spike protein. This induces the production of neutralizing antibodies and a...