npj Vaccines (May 2021)

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine candidate significantly reduces SARS-CoV-2 shedding in ferrets

  • Glenn A. Marsh,
  • Alexander J. McAuley,
  • Gough G. Au,
  • Sarah Riddell,
  • Daniel Layton,
  • Nagendrakumar B. Singanallur,
  • Rachel Layton,
  • Jean Payne,
  • Peter A. Durr,
  • Hannah Bender,
  • Jennifer A. Barr,
  • John Bingham,
  • Victoria Boyd,
  • Sheree Brown,
  • Matthew P. Bruce,
  • Kathie Burkett,
  • Teresa Eastwood,
  • Sarah Edwards,
  • Tamara Gough,
  • Kim Halpin,
  • Jenni Harper,
  • Clare Holmes,
  • William S. J. Horman,
  • Petrus Jansen van Vuren,
  • Suzanne Lowther,
  • Kate Maynard,
  • Kristen D. McAuley,
  • Matthew J. Neave,
  • Timothy Poole,
  • Christina Rootes,
  • Brenton Rowe,
  • Elisha Soldani,
  • Vittoria Stevens,
  • Cameron R. Stewart,
  • Willy W. Suen,
  • Mary Tachedjian,
  • Shawn Todd,
  • Lee Trinidad,
  • Duane Walter,
  • Naomi Watson,
  • Trevor W. Drew,
  • Sarah C. Gilbert,
  • Teresa Lambe,
  • S. S. Vasan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-021-00315-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are likely to be critical in the management of the ongoing pandemic. A number of candidates are in Phase III human clinical trials, including ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222), a replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine candidate. In preclinical trials, the efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 against SARS-CoV-2 challenge was evaluated in a ferret model of infection. Groups of ferrets received either prime-only or prime-boost administration of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 via the intramuscular or intranasal route. All ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 administration combinations resulted in significant reductions in viral loads in nasal-wash and oral swab samples. No vaccine-associated adverse events were observed associated with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 candidate, with the data from this study suggesting it could be an effective and safe vaccine against COVID-19. Our study also indicates the potential for intranasal administration as a way to further improve the efficacy of this leading vaccine candidate.