While the spotlight on the efforts at protecting the people from Covid-19 are on the private pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Moderna, little is known about the ongoing research being done by U.S. Army researchers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). According to the U.S. Army, the vaccine developed by the WRAIR not only elicits a potent immune response but it has potential to provide broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as other coronaviruses.

Early on the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers have focused on developing a vaccine that would not only work on the existing strain but will also be able to target other variants. The results of their research led to the development of the Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine, or SpFN.

As reported on the official U.S. Army website, Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, Director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch at WRAIR, co-inventor of the vaccine and the U.S. Army lead for SpFN said, “The accelerating emergence of human coronaviruses throughout the past two decades and the rise of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including most recently Omicron, underscore the continued need for next-generation preemptive vaccines that confer broad protection against coronavirus diseases.” He further added that, “Our strategy has been to develop a ‘pan-coronavirus’ vaccine technology that could potentially offer safe, effective and durable protection against multiple coronavirus strains and species.”

A vial of spike ferritin nanoparticle (SpFN), WRAIR’s COVID-19 vaccine (U.S. Army photo by Mike Walters)

Pre-clinical trials conducted on animals early this year produced positive results. Phase 1 which started in April 2021 conducted human trials was wrapped up this month with the vaccine tested against the Omicron variant and other variants is undergoing review. The data will be compared to other Covid-19 vaccines that have been given approval for emergency use.

Apart from the SpFN, the researchers also developed a secondary vaccine which targets a smaller part of the coronavirus Spike protein than the SpFN vaccine called a SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor-Binding Domain Ferritin Nanoparticle (RFN) vaccine. This vaccine is said to offer similar protection against an array of SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV-1.

The SpFN trials will still need to go through two more phases according to Dr. Modjarrad in an interview with Defense One before it can be determined if it will be effective and safe for use in vaccinating the public.

Top photo: U.S. Army photo by Markus Rauchenberger