Protection against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection and diseases in golden Syrian hamsters by a VABIOTECH-developed candidate vaccine

Abstract

A challenge study was performed on nine golden Syrian hamsters to evaluate the protective effect against SARSCoV-2 (COVID-19) infection and diseases induced by COVINVAX, a candidate vaccine developed by VABIOTECH, in comparison with the placebo control group. The preliminary results showed that COVINVAX vaccine prevented the infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, alleviated clinical symptoms (dyspnea, ruffled hair, coma) and prevented death in the vaccinated hamsters in comparison with unvaccinated animals. In particular, after challenge virus was not detected in the lung tissue samples of the hamsters vaccinated with two doses by intramuscular route. Meanwhile a low viral load (Ct value 29.05) after challenge was detected in lung tissue samples of vaccinated hamsters with the
2nd dose by intranasal route. These results demonstrated that our candidate vaccine, COVINVAX could potentially protect against clinical symptoms caused by SARS-CoV-2. This challenge model on the golden Syrian hamster will serve as an important basis for our further preclinical studies.