Researchers from Cambridge University, Stanford University, and DIOSynVax have jointly developed a new AI-designed "Universal" vaccine that can suppress nearly all variants of coronavirus in the world with a single dose.
In the first human trial (Phase 1) conducted with 39 healthy volunteers, the vaccine was found to be safe with no severe adverse effects.
What is more encouraging is that the vaccine is capable of generating immune responses not only against the current COVID-19 virus and SARS, but also against coronavirus species from mink that could potentially emerge as future pandemics.
The secret of the vaccine lies in a key component called a "Super-antigen," which is designed by AI after computing genetic information from various coronavirus variants.
Rather than targeting a single virus variant, it identifies and attacks common weaknesses present throughout the entire virus family, so it can provide broad protection even as viruses continue to mutate.
Additionally, the trial used a needle-free administration method, which will be convenient for people who fear injections and will also make vaccination processes much easier for mass immunization in the future.
Currently, researchers are preparing to conduct a second-phase (Phase 2) trial involving nearly 200 people to gain more certainty about the vaccine's effectiveness.
This step represents a new medical revolution where, instead of following behind virus threats, AI technology enables proactive countermeasures that can suppress viruses before they become dangerous.
Ref: Technology Innovation
