Our self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) platform will take RNA vaccines to a new level. Vaccines based on mRNA technology have demonstrated many advantageous properties, including the short time to adapt to new pathogens and strains and the ability for highly standardize manufacturing. However, the doses currently employed for those vaccines are widely considered high, limiting the ability to quickly scale up to a large number of doses. In addition, current vaccines require at least a 2-dose regimen (prime and boost) to achieve robust protection.

Veterna’s saRNA platform combines the beneficial properties of current mRNA vaccines while overcoming their weaknesses. After administration of the vaccine to the patient, the vaccine RNA replicates for a limited time inside the cell, giving rise to a substantially higher production of vaccine antigen and consequently to a more robust and longer lasting immune system stimulation. The result is a stronger humoral and cellular immunity with only a single administration with a fast onset of immunity.