‘Future-proof’ AI-designed Covid vaccine passes first human trial

The results of the first human clinical trial, published in the Journal of Infection, demonstrate that a single, AI-designed ‘super-antigen’ vaccine is safe and triggers a broad immune response against multiple coronaviruses, including those currently circulating in bats with the potential to spill over into humans.

The trial represents a fundamental shift from reactive to proactive vaccine design. Unlike current shots that chase individual strains after they appear, this new platform uses computer simulations and machine learning to forge a single antigen containing elements common to entire viral families.

“We’ve converted vaccine development from being reactive to being future proof. Our vaccines will continue to provide protection against viruses even as they mutate into new strains,” said Professor Jonathan Heeney from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine, scientific lead of the research and head of the Lab of Viral Zoonotics. “We’ve overcome the problem of traditional vaccines, which have limited protection. It means we can escape the constant cycle of chasing the virus variants circulating in humans and updating the vaccines to try to catch up, like a dog chasing its tail.”

The phase 1 trial, sponsored by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, enrolled 39 healthy volunteers at NIHR clinical research facilities in Southampton and Cambridge. The candidate, administered via a needle-free micro fluid jet, proved safe with no significant side-effects. Crucially, it generated immune responses not only against SARS-CoV-2 and SARS, but also against related bat coronaviruses that have yet to make the jump to people. This marks the first time a vaccine whose active ingredient was designed entirely by computer simulations has been tested in humans.

To engineer the ‘super-antigen’, researchers fed genetic sequence data for all known Sarbeco coronaviruses into a machine learning algorithm. The AI identified common structural features across the entire group — including viruses yet undiscovered — and crafted a single synthetic antigen compatible with most vaccine delivery systems. The technology, developed by the University and its spin-out DIOSynVax (Digitally Immune Optimised Synthetic Vaccines) Ltd, is now being adapted for influenza, pandemic flu threats, and haemorrhagic fever viruses such as Ebola.

“Viruses like Influenza, Coronaviruses and the Ebola group are evolving continuously and by the time vaccines are rolled out, they may be poorly matched — the current ‘reactive’ vaccine system struggles to keep pace,” said Professor Saul Faust of the University of Southampton, the trial’s chief investigator. “This new class of universal vaccines are future-proofed. They not only protect against many variants simultaneously, but potentially against related viruses that haven’t yet emerged and spilled over to humans. If we can develop and clinically advance this new class of vaccines before a virus outbreak begins, millions of lives could be saved, lockdowns avoided and the economy preserved.”

While further development is required before public deployment, a larger phase 2 trial is now being planned to assess immune responses across a more diverse population, the milestone has been hailed by health research leaders. Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR infrastructure, called the success “a pivotal leap forward in our ability to deliver broad, lasting viral protection,” crediting the partnership between the life sciences sector and NIHR facilities for fast-tracking the innovation.

Backed primarily by Innovate UK, DIOSynVax was established in 2017 with support from Cambridge Enterprise. The team emphasises that the continuous circulation of coronaviruses and other zoonotic viruses in animal reservoirs makes the development of universal vaccines an urgent global health priority — because it is impossible to predict which virus will spark the next