Applied DNA Sciences Inc., a leader in PCR-based DNA manufacturing that enables in vitro diagnostics, pre-clinical nucleic acid-based therapeutic drug candidates, supply chain security, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, announced that linear-DNA forms of COVID-19 vaccine candidates under development by partner Takis Biotech (Takis) and manufactured by the company yielded strong antibody and T-cell responses even at very low doses of linear DNA, raising the potential of effective dosing empowering global utility.
As the world grapples with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), scientists race to develop treatments and vaccines to combat the viral infection. Though many ongoing trials show promise in fighting the novel coronavirus, Italian researchers claim they have developed a vaccine that can neutralize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in animal cells.
STONY BROOK, N.Y. & ROME--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied DNA Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: APDN) (“Applied DNA” or the “Company” or “we/our”) today announced with its COVID-19 vaccine development partner Takis Biotech (“Takis”) that the first injections of the DNA vaccine candidates against the Spike protein (product of the S gene) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, cause of the COVID-19 disease, have produced neutralizing antibodies in test animals. The studies were completed at the renowned Lazzaro Spallanzani (“Spallanzani”) National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome. These initial results were obtained using plasmids (the templates for LinearDNA™) to baseline results; Applied DNA’s linear DNA dose-response trials begin this week.