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CEPI supported the development of a vaccine candidate based on Affinivax’s innovative Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPSTM) technology.

The programme aimed to establish preclinical proof of concept for a vaccine candidate designed to protect against new COVID-19 variants suitable for use in the Global South.

CEPI funding has been discontinued.

CEPI is providing up to US $1.5 million to Akagera Medicines to demonstrate the pre-clinical proof of concept of their lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and modified mRNA for the development of a multivalent influenza vaccine.

Their LNP formulation could optimise delivery of mRNA and reduce potential LNP-associated adverse events.

The technology could also improve the stability of the mRNA-based vaccines, removing the need for frozen storage to bolster equitable vaccine access.

Benefits could also include enhanced shelf life, reduced Cost of Goods, and a reduction in the required effective dose which would extend the number of doses that could be produced.

Researchers at Amplitude Therapeutics will perform preclinical studies that assess whether their trans-amplifying mRNA vaccine approach could provide a simplified alternative to the self-amplifying mRNA vaccine technique being used today.

Trans-amplifying mRNA vaccines consist of two separate, short RNA fragments - one encoding the antigen and one encoding the replicase.

By separating out the target antigen and replicase sequences, the vaccine could be more easily produced in vaccine manufacturing facilities. Compared to conventional mRNA vaccines, the design could also mean up to 100 times less antigen-encoded RNA is needed per dose and the replicase enzyme can be produced ahead of an outbreak as it does not need to be combined with the target antigen sequence.

Aspen is one of CEPI’s vaccine manufacturing network members. The network aims to substantially increase the world’s capacity and capability to produce vaccines against emerging outbreaks in as little as 100 days.

In December 2022, CEPI and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation partnered with Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa. Both CEPI and the Gates Foundation are providing up to $15 million to support a ten-year agreement between Aspen and Serum Institute India to expand the supply and sourcing of affordable vaccines manufactured in Africa.

Through the partnership with Serum, Aspen will manufacture and distribute four routine vaccines—Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, Polyvalent Meningococcal, and Hexavalent—in Africa. The funding from CEPI and the Gates Foundation will also help sustain regional vaccine manufacturing capacity at Aspen for potential future outbreak response, with the intention of securing early access to African-produced vaccines in the event of a future public health emergency.

CEPI is providing up to US $25 million to advance development of the Nipah virus vaccine candidate, HeV-Sg-V.

HeV-sG-V Nipah is a recombinant subunit vaccine that contains a portion of the G glycoprotein of Hendra virus, a henipavirus closely related to Nipah.

HeV-sG-V became the first-ever Nipah vaccine candidate to enter in-human testing in 2020. The trial, sponsored by Auro Vaccines, investigated the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate.

PATH is leading clinical operations and CEPI is funding the programme through Phase 2 clinical trials. Under the terms of the original agreement awarded by CEPI, Emergent BioSolutions has provided contract development and manufacturing services to produce the Phase 1 clinical trial material. Through a separate agreement with Auro Vaccines, Emergent has an exclusive option to license and assume control of development activities for the Nipah virus vaccine candidate.