On May 3, 2021, Vaxart announced that new data obtained from its Phase I COVID-19 trial added to the evidence suggesting that VXA-CoV2-1, the companyﾒs first COVID-19 oral vaccine construct that triggers mucosal immunity and includes both the S and the N SARS-Cov-2 proteins, has broad cross-coronavirus activity.

The Phase I open-label study is intended to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of Vaxart’s vaccine candidate. Data obtained from Vaxart’s oral COVID-19 vaccine Phase I trial showed substantial CD8⁺ T-cell responses, as measured by IFN-g and TNF-a induction. In a comparative experiment conducted by Vaxart, Phase I study data was compared to T-cell responses from volunteers subsequently vaccinated with the Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccine, indicating the mRNA vaccines induced fewer T-cell responses.

Vaxart is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a range of oral recombinant vaccines based on its proprietary delivery platform. Vaxart vaccines are designed to be administered using tablets that can be stored and shipped without refrigeration and eliminate the risk of needle-stick injury. Vaxart believes that its proprietary tablet vaccine delivery platform is suitable to deliver recombinant vaccines, positioning the company to develop oral versions of currently marketed vaccines and to design recombinant vaccines for new indications. Its development programs currently include tablet vaccines designed to protect against coronavirus, norovirus, seasonal influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), Vaxart’s first immuno-oncology indication. Vaxart has filed broad domestic and international patents covering its proprietary technology and creations for oral vaccination using adenovirus and TLR3 agonists.