BACKGROUND
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the single largest cause of viral pediatric bronchiolitis and pneumonia in the world; in 2015, 33.1 million RSV associated acute respiratory infections (ARI) in children resulted in 3.2 million hospitalizations and 59,600 deaths globally. This disease is also dangerous to people over 65 with 1.5 million RSV-ARI resulted in 336,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths globally. Pursuit of a vaccine for this disease has been ongoing since the 1960s, but none have been developed. There is a critical need for a vaccine to provide protection against this deadly virus.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
Investigators at OSU have developed a vaccine against RSV using virus-like particles. This vaccine employs virus like particles based on portions of F, G, and nucleoproteins to provide a vaccine that generates an immune response focusing on the antigen regions of importance. In addition to the proteins present, these virus-like particles can also be designed to include entire G proteins, variants of proteins, or additional RSV antigens, thus allowing for a diversity of protection that can mirror evolutionary patterns in the virus.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
- Immunization of vulnerable populations against RSV
- Eradication of a globally prevalent disease
MAIN ADVANTAGES
- Intra-nasal delivery provides both local (lung) and systemic protection
- Can be modified in the case of strain evolution
COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY
The global RSV market had a worth of $1.67 billion in 2020, and is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate of 14.9% over the next 6 years to be worth $4.20 billion in 2027.
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT