# Specific Pathogen Free Baboon Research Resource (SPFBRR) - Administrative Supplement

> **NIH NIH P40** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2021 · $499,948

## Abstract

Project Summary
Recent successes using nanoparticles encapsulating mRNA payload for COVID-19 vaccination
have energized the field of exosomes as novel vaccine agents. Exosomes (40-180nm),
extracellular vesicles of the size of a virus and shed by all cells, are actively studied in viral biology.
The reported use of exosomes to improve immunogenicity of vaccines (including SARS-Cov) may
result from their enhanced stability in vivo, tropism for immune cells, enhanced uptake and antigen
processing, and unique, virus-like presentation of a conformationally intact antigen on their
surface, a feature recognized as essential for SARS CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (SC2S)
antigenicity. Further, exosomes present with the unique property to deliver a siRNA/ASO
therapeutic payload (TP), a strategy developed at MDACC for pancreatic cancer and FDA
approved for Phase I trial (NCT03608631). Leveraging our good manufacturing practices (GMP)
certified clinical grade exosomes platform, our recent efforts in engineering and testing exosomes
presenting with surface SC2S protein aimed to yield a vaccine designed to be readily
interchangeable to other SARS, past or future. The engineered exosomes, ExoVAX-SC2S,
present SC2S on their surface and encapsulate mRNA for the spike protein. In this administrative
supplement, we will test the efficacy of ExoVAX-SC2S in eliciting B- and T cell immunity as well
as long term antibody production in Baboons. The species is best suited for testing this novel
vaccine approach due to its symptomatic presentation to SARS CoV-2 and a similar antibody
repertoire as humans. The administrative supplement coalesces the expertise of Simmons and
Kalluri laboratories to accomplish the proposed studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10399105
- **Project number:** 3P40OD024628-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Joe H. Simmons
- **Activity code:** P40 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $499,948
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-08-15 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10399105

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10399105, Specific Pathogen Free Baboon Research Resource (SPFBRR) - Administrative Supplement (3P40OD024628-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10399105. Licensed CC0.

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