Self-amplifying messenger RNA vaccine will be tested at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research has awarded a US$145,000 grant to Genvax Technologies to develop a self-amplifying messenger RNA (saRNA) vaccine for African swine fever (ASF) in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Services Plum Island Animal Disease Center (USDA-ARS-PIADC). Matching funds were provided by Genvax Technologies for a total US$290,000 investment in innovative ASF vaccine research.
ASF is present in many countries around the world, but to date it has never been detected in the U.S. Due to its prevalence and deadly consequences in other countries, and the risk of it spreading to the U.S., it is critical to prepare for potential future outbreaks of the virus. ASF is not a threat to human health as it cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans; however, the high mortality rates it causes in pigs would significantly disrupt U.S. pork producers and the economy.
Economic models estimate the worst-case scenario of a U.S. ASF outbreak would result in a US$50 billion loss to U.S. pig producers and allied industry. Additionally, as the U.S. exports 20% of its annual pork production, an outbreak could affect the availability of U.S. pork on the world market, reducing access to animal protein and impacting global food security.
“We have already seen the effects of this highly contagious, deadly virus in countries across the world. If ASF reaches the U.S., we need to be prepared with an effective vaccine that can protect the U.S. swine industry. We have learned from the COVID pandemic that RNA vaccines can be produced rapidly and adapted for different variants; now it’s time to apply those learnings to improve animal health, said Tim Kurt, scientific program director, Advanced Animal Systems.
Genvax Technologies is developing a non-living vaccine composed of self-amplifying messenger RNA, or saRNA. saRNA vaccines are genetically engineered molecules that trigger the immune system to make antibodies that can successfully attack and destroy an invading virus. Researchers will test the vaccine at USDA-ARS’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center to determine if the vaccine will protect swine when exposed to a virulent, or severe, strain of the virus. If successful, Gevnax Technologies will seek approval from USDA-Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) to deploy the vaccine in the U.S. should an outbreak occur.
This research ensures there will be infrastructure and capacity in place to rapidly respond to an ASF outbreak with next generation saRNA vaccine technology. Additionally, the saRNA technology will be adaptable to variants of the ASF virus occurring in new outbreaks of the disease.
“The threat posed by African swine fever is extraordinary to both producers and consumers,” said Joel Harris, CEO and co-founder of Genvax Technologies. “The creation, testing and regulatory approval of the vaccine will be a real joint effort by the USDA’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center, the Center for Veterinary Biologics and Genvax. The goal is to get a vaccine in the field that matches 100% to the specific ASF strain if an outbreak were to occur. This vaccine will also be compatible with diagnostic tests that can differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). This makes our vaccine an important tool for eradication efforts and may alleviate any concerns with trading partners abroad.”
FFAR awarded this grant through the Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program, which deploys urgent funding to support research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems.
