• Japan's MHLW has approved Kostaive, a self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine developed by CSL and Arcturus Therapeutics, targeting the JN.1 Omicron subvariant.
• Meiji Seika Pharma, CSL's partner in Japan, will distribute Kostaive for the October COVID-19 vaccination campaign, marking the first commercially available sa-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for adults.
• Clinical data supports Kostaive's safety and superior immunogenicity against Omicron BA 4/5 compared to conventional mRNA vaccines, with immunity lasting up to one year.
• The approval aligns with WHO recommendations to update COVID-19 vaccines to target the JN.1 lineage, offering a more durable option against the virus in Japan.