Flavivirus vaccine
The present invention is directed to an artificial nucleic acid and to a polypeptide suitable for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of an infection with a flavivirus, in particular an infection with yellow fever virus or with dengue virus, or of a disorder related to such an infection. The present invention is also directed to a composition, preferably an immunogenic composition, comprising the artificial nucleic acid or the inventive polypeptide. In particular, the present invention concerns an immunogenic composition against a flavivirus, such as yellow fever virus or dengue virus. Further, the invention concerns a kit, particularly a kit of parts, comprising the artificial nucleic acid, polypeptide or (immunogenic) composition. The invention is further directed to a method of treating or preventing a disorder or a disease, first and second medical uses of the artificial nucleic acid, polypeptide, composition, in particular the first and second medical uses of the immunogenic composition according to the invention.
1 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising RNA formulated in a lipid nanoparticle (LNP), said RNA comprising
a) at least one coding region encoding at least one polypeptide comprising a yellow fever virus premembrane protein (prM) and a yellow fever virus envelope protein (E), wherein said at least one coding region is at least 90% identical to the RNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 155; and
b) an untranslated region (UTR) comprising at least one heterologous UTR element, wherein said LNP comprises: (i) at least one cationic lipid; (ii) a neutral lipid; (iii) a sterol;
and (iv) a PEG-lipid.
2 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one encoded polypeptide further comprises a yellow fever virus non-structural protein or a flavivirus capsid protein (C).
3 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one encoded polypeptide further comprises at least one amino acid sequence that promotes self-cleavage of the encoded polypeptide.
4 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one encoded polypeptide comprises at least one signal sequence, wherein the at least one signal sequence is a signal sequence of a secretory protein or a signal sequence of a membrane protein.
5 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one encoded polypeptide further comprises at least one amino acid sequence that promotes virus-like particle (VLP) formation.
6 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 5 , wherein the amino acid sequence promoting virus-like particle (VLP) formation is from a hepatitis B virus core antigen.
7 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one encoded polypeptide further comprises at least one amino acid sequence that promotes antigen clustering.
8 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one encoded polypeptide comprises a mutated furin cleavage site.
9 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the RNA is an mRNA.
10 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , further comprising a histone stem-loop, a 3′-UTR element, a 5′-UTR element, a poly (A) sequence, and/or a poly(C) sequence.
11 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the coding region encodes a polypeptide comprising a sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51.
12 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the coding region comprises a sequence that is at least 95% identical to the RNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 155.
13 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the LNP comprises (i) the cationic lipid; (ii) the neutral lipid; (iii) the sterol; and (iv) the PEG-lipid, in a molar ratio of about 20-60% cationic lipid: 5-25% neutral lipid: 25-55% sterol; and 0.5-15% PEG-lipid.
14 . The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 13 , wherein the PEG-lipid is PEG-DMG or PEG-cDMA.
15 . A kit or kit of parts comprising the pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 , and comprising technical instructions providing information on administration and dosage of the components.
16 . A method for treating or preventing a yellow fever virus infection comprising administering the pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 to a patient in need thereof.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the composition is administered by intramuscular injection.
18 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising RNA formulated in a lipid nanoparticle (LNP), said RNA comprising
a) a 5′ Cap;
b) a 5′ untranslated region (UTR);
c) at least one coding region encoding a polypeptide comprising a sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51, wherein said at least one coding region is at least 90% identical to the RNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 155;
d) a 3′ UTR; and
e) a poly(A) sequence,
wherein said LNP comprises: (i) at least one cationic lipid; (ii) a neutral lipid; (iii) a sterol; and (iv) a PEG-lipid.
19 . A method of inducing an anti-Yellow fever virus (YFV) immune response in a mammalian subject comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical formulation of claim 18 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is administered by injection and wherein upon administration the pharmaceutical formulation induces a YFV neutralizing antibody response in the subject.