Combination nasal spray vaccine could protect against COVID, flu and pneumonia

Stanford researchers report an intranasal vaccine that protected mice from multiple respiratory viruses, some bacteria and an allergen in a preclinical study published in Science; human safety and effectiveness remain to be tested through clinical trials.

Researchers at Stanford Medicine have described a nasal spray vaccine that provided broad protection in the lungs of mice and is presented as a step toward a more generalized respiratory vaccine. The study, published in Science, tested an intranasal formulation in mice that received one or more doses and were later exposed to respiratory pathogens. Vaccinated animals were reported to survive challenges that caused weight loss, lung inflammation and death in unvaccinated controls. The authors and outside experts emphasized that this is a preclinical proof of concept and not an approved human vaccine. Key findings: - The intranasal vaccine was tested in mice and reportedly provided protection for at least three months after dosing. - Vaccinated mice survived exposures that produced weight loss, lung inflammation and death in unvaccinated animals, and had clear lungs according to the report. - The vaccinated animals were reported to be protected against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii, and against house dust mite allergens. - The approach is described as training innate immune cells in the lungs to mount broader antiviral and antibacterial responses rather than targeting a single pathogen. - Researchers noted the study is preclinical and said additional work is needed to assess safety, optimal dosing and effectiveness in people; outside experts cautioned that mouse immune responses do not always predict human results. Summary: The study offers a laboratory proof of concept that an intranasal vaccine can elicit broad lung immunity in mice and protect against multiple respiratory threats. Translation to human use will require careful clinical testing, and the researchers estimate, with sufficient funding, human availability could take several years.