Cleo SG Registers Patent for Zika Virus Vaccine Using Recombinant VSV Platform Technology

CreoSG announced on the 13th that it has finalized the registration of a domestic patent for a Zika virus vaccine using the recombinant VSV (Vesicular Stomatitis Virus) vector system, a core technology for developing various vaccines.

The VSV-Zika virus vaccine is developed by CreoSG’s subsidiary, Smagen Canada, in collaboration with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. It is a vaccine platform called SUV-MAP, which attenuates the recombinant VSV vector through genetic recombination to enhance safety, incorporates the Zika virus envelope protein, and maximizes vaccine efficacy by increasing the expression of Zika proteins. This vaccine demonstrated strong immunogenicity and excellent protection against live Zika virus challenge in mouse immunogenicity tests.

The Zika virus (Zika virus, ZKV) was first discovered in monkeys in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947. It began appearing in humans in 1952 and 1954, followed by large-scale outbreaks on Yap Island in 2007, French Polynesia in 2013, and in Brazil and other parts of the Americas in 2015 and 2016.

ZKV infection causes a wide range of diseases. The most severe outcome of ZKV infection is microcephaly and congenital fetal abnormalities when pregnant women are infected. In most cases, ZKV infection causes mild symptoms, but in rare cases, it increases the risk of neurological complications such as Guillain-Barre syndrome. Although the ZKV epidemic has recently subsided, there is always a possibility of re-emergence in other parts of the world. These recent outbreaks have drawn international attention and triggered the demand for ZKV vaccine development.

SUV-MAP is a vaccine development platform based on recombinant VSV vector technology. CreoSG registered the trademark SUV-MAP for this technology in September last year to protect its recombinant VSV vector technology and utilize it for various vaccines.

SUV-MAP can create recombinant viruses carrying various target antigen genes and mass-produce them in cultured cells for use as vaccine raw materials. It also establishes a system for rapid vaccine development and production, enabling swift response to future pandemics.

A CreoSG official stated, “The Zika virus vaccine, which has confirmed excellent protective ability, is seeking rapid development through preclinical and clinical trials, and positive discussions are underway regarding cooperation with companies in Southeast Asia and South America.”

Meanwhile, CreoSG has obtained global patents for the core technology of the recombinant VSV vector system. In addition to confirming the registration of the VSV-Zika vaccine, individual patent registrations are underway for the VSV-MERS vaccine, VSV-COVID vaccine, VSV-Hanta vaccine, and VSV-SFTS vaccine.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.