The emergence of COVID-19 and the ensuing pandemic have demonstrated the ongoing threat that infectious diseases pose to our health, economy, and lifestyle. While traditional vaccines often take years to develop, the urgency of the pandemic has redefined expectations, setting a new target of 100 days for vaccine development. Achieving this goal requires a shift in current vaccine paradigms and the development of flexible, rapid, and scalable technologies.
At the forefront of this effort in Australia is Sementis, using its advanced viral-vector platform, the Sementis Copenhagen Vector (SCV). This fourth-generation vector, derived from the Copenhagen strain of the vaccinia virus, is replication-deficient through targeted gene deletion. The SCV platform is designed to rapidly produce safe and effective vaccines.
In partnership with the Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory at the University of South Australia, Sementis has made remarkable progress in a short period. Together, they have developed a multi-pathogen vaccine targeting Chikungunya and Zika viruses, as well as a first-generation COVID-19 vaccine, demonstrating the SCV platform’s immunogenicity and utility in addressing infectious diseases.
The South Australian Genomics Centre (SAGC) played a key role in the development of both vaccines by ensuring effectiveness and safety through advanced genomic services. The seamless collaboration between Sementis, the Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, and SAGC has facilitated access to services, expertise, and real-time knowledge sharing for their researchers.
With the support of SAGC, Sementis and the Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory have integrated new technologies into the SCV platform, enhancing its capability to rapidly develop new vaccines for future outbreaks. This pioneering effort has laid the groundwork for combating future infectious diseases with unprecedented speed and precision.