Lessons learned from a pandemic vaccine consortium 

Published in Vaccine Insights (2023) (OPENCORONA: lessons learned from a pandemic vaccine consortium), this interview highlights the EU-funded OPENCORONA project, a pan-European consortium formed in early 2020 to develop a DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine. Led by Karolinska Institutet and supported by NorthX Biologics, the project successfully brought a vaccine candidate into Phase I clinical trials in under three years. 

Key highlights: 

• NorthX Biologics produced both high-quality plasmid DNA for toxicology studies and GMP-grade plasmid for clinical trials. 

• The vaccine design included multiple antigens: RBDs from Wuhan, Alpha, and Beta variants, plus membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, aiming for broad T cell immunity and cross-variant protection. 

• The project adapted rapidly to emerging data, redesigning both the vaccine and clinical trial to serve as a booster for individuals previously vaccinated with RNA vaccines. 

• The consortium emphasized fast decision-making, cross-sector collaboration, and clear communication – key factors in navigating pandemic constraints. 

Lessons learned: 

• Agility and trust among partners enabled swift progress despite limited funding. 

• DNA vaccines, while slower to market than RNA counterparts, offer unique advantages in immune response diversity and variant coverage. 

• The experience underscored the value of private–academic partnerships in early-phase innovation and pandemic preparedness. 

Read the full article here.