The Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), Duke Human Vaccine Institute, and 3M have collaborated to create a vaccine candidate with potential to provide protection against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, as well as other coronaviruses. Study results show the vaccine candidate, which combines a nanoparticle developed by a Duke-led research team with the IDRI's novel formulation of 3M's "3M-052" compound, stimulates increased levels of production of "broadly neutralizing antibodies" against several strains of coronavirus, including bat coronaviruses.

Results showed the adjuvant component of the vaccine candidate provided a critical boost to induce the robust protection against SARS-CoV-2 and increased production of antibodies that may confer protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, preventing future pandemics.

IDRI's formulation of 3M-052 is an "adjuvant" formulation designed to stimulate and to enhance the strength and breadth of immune responses produced by vaccines.  An "adjuvanted" vaccine, such as the Duke-3M-IDRI candidate, holds promise for broad protection against the whole family of coronaviruses, but also may reduce the need for booster shots, which appear likely and necessary with currently authorized SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Multiple studies have shown that the 3M-052/Alum formulation elicits a strong, durable immune response in preclinical studies and these promising results continue to be studied at major academic centers across the U.S

Researchers also tested an mRNA vaccine candidate similar to those now approved for emergency use to determine their ability to generate neutralizing antibodies against additional coronaviruses other than COVID-19.  Results from this study demonstrate that RNA vaccine technology also produces antibodies, albeit at lower levels than the adjuvanted vaccine, that may also confer protection from emerging COVID-19 variants.