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Researchers have successfully tested an artificial intelligence-designed vaccine that could one day protect against a broad range of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, SARS, and related viruses with pandemic potential.
The experimental vaccine, called pEVAC-PS, was developed by researchers affiliated with the University of Southampton, the University of Cambridge, and DIOSynVax Ltd.
Unlike traditional vaccines that target a single virus strain, pEVAC-PS uses a synthetic “super-antigen” created with the help of AI-powered computer modeling. The vaccine is designed to train the immune system to recognize features shared by many coronaviruses, potentially providing protection against both existing viruses and future variants.
In its first human trial, the vaccine was tested in 39 healthy adults and was found to be safe and well tolerated, with no significant side effects. It was delivered as a DNA vaccine using a needle-free intradermal injection system.
According to Healthline, the needle-free delivery method could reduce the need for specialized equipment while lowering the risk of needle-related injuries and infections.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge reported that the vaccine generated immune responses not only against SARS-CoV-2 and the virus that causes SARS, but also against related bat coronaviruses that could potentially spill over into humans and trigger future outbreaks.
The researchers say vaccines designed this way could provide broader protection against emerging viral threats while reducing the need for frequent reformulation—a key limitation of many current vaccines.
“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 Saul Faust from 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 spilt 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.”
Experts caution, however, that the study was a small Phase 1 clinical trial designed primarily to evaluate safety, not effectiveness. Larger studies will be needed to determine whether the vaccine can prevent infection or illness in people.
If future trials are successful, AI-designed vaccines like pEVAC-PS could represent a new approach to preparing for future pandemics by targeting entire families of viruses rather than individual strains.
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