Coronaviruses
Seven members of the coronavirus family are already known to infect people, often with deadly consequences - and novel coronaviruses are continuing to be discovered. CEPI’s coronavirus R&D investments focus on two of its priority pathogens—COVID-19 and MERS—as well as broadly protective coronavirus vaccines and the establishment of a coronavirus vaccine library.
COVID-19
COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and is part of the Coronavirus family. When COVID-19 struck in January 2020, CEPI was primed, launching some of the earliest COVID-19 vaccine programmes. CEPI went onto create one of the largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolios, and co-founded and co-led COVAX.
MERS
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory illness caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
MERS-CoV was first identified in 2012 and most cases have been reported from the Arabian Peninsula. In 2015, however, the Republic of Korea suffered the largest MERS outbreak outside of the Middle East.
Broadly protective coronavirus vaccines
The 21st century has seen three coronavirus epidemics or pandemics already. That is why CEPI is a leading funder of research into broadly protective coronavirus vaccines, which could protect against known and future coronaviruses with epidemic and pandemic potential.
A Coronavirus vaccine library
To combat the broader risk posed by potential spillover of novel coronaviruses from animals to humans, CEPI has initiated efforts to establish a “Coronavirus vaccine library”—a repository of data and knowledge about vaccines targeting this viral family, intended to accelerate vaccine development against future Coronavirus threats. This approach includes work to prioritise potential Coronavirus threats; design immunogens against these prioritised pathogens, which could be used as vaccine targets; support preclinical testing of potential vaccine targets on various vaccine platforms; and support clinical testing of the most promising candidates to ascertain Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity.
