# DNA prime / rVSV boost Multi-Antigen Universal Influenza Vaccine

> **NIH NIH R44** · ORLANCE, INC. · 2021 · $1,000,000

## Abstract

Abstract
A universal influenza vaccine is believed to be possible if conserved regions of influenza are effectively targeted
and appropriate immune responses are generated against those targets. The enhanced safety, stability, and
accelerated product development and production generally provided by DNA vaccination make it an appealing
approach to develop such a universal influenza vaccine. Unfortunately, immune responses to universal influenza
antigens are typically weak and earlier studies of DNA vaccination in humans showed poor humoral
immunogenicity. However, recent advancements in vaccine delivery and use of adjuvants and viral vector boosts
have improved the outlook of DNA vaccination. To overcome obstacles to developing an effective, practical, and
truly universal influenza vaccine, we propose to further develop and test our DNA prime / viral-vectored boost
vaccine regimen, which employs novel immunogens derived from the following four conserved influenza A
antigens: 1) the stem region of hemagglutinin (Stem); 2) the matrix 2 protein ectodomain (M2e); 3) the
nucleoprotein (NP); and 4) the matrix 1 protein (M1). Our phase I results indicate that together, these antigens
evoke the immunological breadth and types of immune responses necessary to target a broad range of both
seasonal and potential pandemic influenza strains and to evoke appropriate antiviral immune responses
necessary to combat these influenza viral infections. Our strategy also uses a clinically proven DNA adjuvant
that maximizes immunogenicity, tunes the responses toward an antiviral Th1 phenotype, and improves the anti-
viral activities of the humoral immune response. Under this phase II SBIR application, we will test a viral-vectored
boost for amplification of the DNA-raised immune responses. We will also determine the protective effects of our
vaccine in other relevant preclinical animal models (ferrets and macaques) and perform studies intended to
further define the vaccine's mechanisms of action.
3

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10142353
- **Project number:** 5R44AI122371-05
- **Recipient organization:** ORLANCE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Kenneth C Bagley
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,000,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-06-15 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10142353

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10142353, DNA prime / rVSV boost Multi-Antigen Universal Influenza Vaccine (5R44AI122371-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10142353. Licensed CC0.

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