The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused an estimated five million deaths globally, as well as over 248 million documented infections with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The rapid development of safe and effective vaccines was rightly given top priority, leading to the rollout of several vaccines at the end of 2020.

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* describes the results of the safety and efficacy phase trials of a new COVID-19 vaccine from Cuba.

Study: Efficacy and Safety of SOBERANA 02, a COVID-19 Conjugate Vaccine in Heterologous Three Doses Combination. Image Credit: Fit Ztudio / Shutterstock.com

Study findings

Vaccines are a high-priority public health intervention; however, the success of the vaccination program depends on the speed and coverage of the rollout.

SOBERANA 02 is the first conjugated vaccine to be developed against SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine uses the recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein, chemically attached to the tetanus toxoid antigen in a molar ratio of 6:1 and adsorbed on 500 micrograms (µg) of alumina. Conversely, SOBERANA Plus contains dimeric RBD 50 µg, adsorbed on 1,250 µg alumina, having been developed as a “universal booster.”

With this, SOBERANA 02 joins other conjugated vaccines, such as the protein-polysaccharide conjugated vaccine against Hemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

With the current experimental vaccine, two doses have been found to elicit neutralizing antibodies, along with both memory B- and T-cells, secreting interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) as well as showing a T-helper cell type 1 (Th1) profile of immunity.

This vaccine could also be used as a heterologous third booster dose to enhance the level of neutralizing anti-RBD antibodies. Following successful Phase 1 and 2a trials, the Phase 3 trial was launched to assess the efficacy and safety profile of two usage patterns of SOBERANA, which include a two-dose regimen of SOBERANA 02, and evaluate this regimen when combined with the third dose of SOBERANA Plus.

The participants of the current study were all healthy adults from different parts of Havana, Cuba. Each participant was assigned in a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled manner to vaccine and control groups. The mean age was 48 years, with an almost equal number of males and females.

One group (A) received the two-dose homologous regimen, the second (group B) the heterologous three-dose regimen, and the third (group C) the placebo. None of the final participants had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at any point.

There were 0.8 COVID-19 cases per 1,000 person-years (PY) in group A, and 2.7 in the placebo, corresponding to 198 and 155 cases, respectively, indicating a two-dose vaccine efficacy (VE) of 71% compared to placebo.

With the heterologous three-dose regimen, the VE was greater than 92% relative to the placebo, at an incidence of 0.1 per 1,000 PY in group B (170 vs 155 cases in groups B and C, respectively).

Protection against severe COVID-19 was 63% in group A and 100% for group B. Comparatively, when considering deaths due to COVID-19, VE was 59% and 100%, respectively.

Implications

The current study shows the SOBERANA 02 conjugate vaccine to be safe and effective in preventing severe COVID-19 in adults up to 80 years of age. A VE of over 60% was expected during the period when the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain was circulating. However, a VE of 62% was achieved, even during a period when the dominant strain was the Beta SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC).

The SARS-CoV-2 Beta strain made up 74% of isolated sequences at the time in Havana. The high VE was observed in spite of the presence of the E484K mutation that confers resistance to neutralizing antibodies in the sera of individuals who have been immunized by natural infection or by vaccination.

By the time the final analysis was conducted, the Delta VOC was the dominant circulating strain; however, the VE at two doses was 71% at this time. The heterologous three-dose regimen led to VE exceeding 92%, but it still remained high irrespective of VOCs in circulation.

Even at the two-month mark, the safety profile was impressive, with mild transient local reactions and no serious adverse reactions reported. The third dose of the vaccine had few side effects.

The final VE comes from the figures compiled 14 days after the last immunization, or 70 days after the first dose with the triple-dose regimen. While this vaccine apparently offered protection against the Beta and Delta VOCs, further work is essential to assess the durability of immunity and the VE for the circulating VOCs.

“Taken together, our findings indicate that SOBERANA 02 is a promising vaccine that can be used in a two-dose regime or in heterologous three-dose combination with SOBERANA Plus to fight COVID19 pandemic in adults population. According to the safety profile and efficacy, it is a potential vaccine for pediatric age.”

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information

Written by

Dr. Liji Thomas

Dr. Liji Thomas is an OB-GYN, who graduated from the Government Medical College, University of Calicut, Kerala, in 2001. Liji practiced as a full-time consultant in obstetrics/gynecology in a private hospital for a few years following her graduation. She has counseled hundreds of patients facing issues from pregnancy-related problems and infertility, and has been in charge of over 2,000 deliveries, striving always to achieve a normal delivery rather than operative.