Measles-vectored vaccine approaches against viral infections: a focus on Chikungunya

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The large global burden of viral infections and especially the rapidly spreading vector-borne diseases and other emerging viral diseases show the need for new approaches in vaccine development. Several new vaccine technology platforms have been developed and are under evaluation.

Areas covered: This article discusses the measles vector platform technology derived from the safe and highly efficacious measles virus vaccine. The pipeline of measles-vectored vaccine candidates against viral diseases is reviewed. Particular focus is given to the Chikungunya vaccine candidate as the first measles-vectored vaccine that demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, and functionality of the technology in humans even in the presence of pre-existing anti-measles immunity and thus achieved proof of concept for the technology.

Expert commentary: Demonstrating no impact of pre-existing anti-measles immunity in humans on the response to the transgene was fundamental for the technology and indicates that the technology is suitable for large-scale immunization in measles pre-immune populations. The proof of concept in humans combined with a large preclinical track record of safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy for a variety of pathogens suggest the measles vector platform as promising plug-and-play vaccine platform technology for rapid development of effective preventive vaccines against viral and other infectious diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Chikungunya
• emerging diseases
• measles vector
• vaccine development
• vector-borne diseases
• viral diseases
• MV-CHIK

Article highlights

• The measles vector platform technology is based on the well-tolerated and efficacious measles vaccine and allows the insertion of additional antigens of up to 6 kb as a ‘plug-and-play’ technology for rapid vaccine development

• Proof of concept for the technology has been obtained with the MV-CHIK vaccine candidate. Particularly the demonstration that there was no impact of pre-existing immunity on the functionality of the MV-based vaccine in humans was an important step for the technology and the MV-CHIK vaccine.

• A vaccine for Chikungunya disease, a debilitating disease, is urgently needed. The Phase I and II clinical trial results showing an acceptable safety profile and strong induction of CHIKV neutralizing antibodies after one or two immunizations suggested MV-CHIK as a promising candidate. Phase III clinical trials are now being prepared.

• Use in children will need to be established

• A large preclinical pipeline of measles-vectored vaccine candidate against many different viruses, but also other pathogens, emphasizes the high versatility and applicability of the platform

Declaration of interest

K. Ramsauer is an employee of Themis Bioscience, a vaccine manufacturer developing the measles vector-based chikungunya and Zika virus vaccine. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was supported by funding from Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Institut Pasteur.