Plant-based virus-like particles, recombinant, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine

The Covifenz COVID-19 vaccine (plant-based virus-like particles (VLP), recombinant, adjuvanted) is a plant-based vaccine developed in partnership by Medicago and GlaxoSmithKline which is approved in Canada for the prevention of COVID-19. It is composed of VLPs expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimers (stabilized in a pre-fusion conformation) and is mixed with the AS03 adjuvant system prior to administration. While the concept of plant-based VLPs as vaccines is not new, it is a novel approach to COVID-19 vaccination, with previously approved COVID-19 vaccines mostly comprising viral vector (e.g. the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine) and nucleic acid vaccines (e.g. the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine). Plant-based VLPs offer a number of advantages as compared to other vaccine platforms, including speed and ease of manufacturing and increased immunogenicity. In addition, VLPs contain no viral material and are therefore inherently non-infectious, making them potentially safer alternatives to traditional vaccines.