Global potential in new, clinically tested COVID vaccine

A new COVID-19 vaccine developed at the University of Washington School of Medicine was shown to be safe and effective during a multinational trial of more than 4,000 adults.

"We have been studying antibody responses upon infection with SARS-CoV-2 throughout the pandemic, and subsequently upon vaccination, we realized that most neutralizing activity found in convalescence and vaccinated individuals is targeting the residual binding domain," said David Veesler, an associate professor of Biochemistry whose lab at the UW School of Medicine teamed up with Neil King's lab to create the new vaccine. "We thought that focusing antibody responses on this key site of vulnerability could lead to a potent vaccine, which is the case."

If the vaccine, named GPB510, receives full approval from regulators, it could be poised for high distribution to international communities with low vaccination rates. COVAX, a vaccine equity mission co-led by the World Health Organization, will make the vaccine available upon approval.

"We know we have more than 2 billion people worldwide that have not received a single dose of vaccine," said Veesler. "If our vaccine is distributed through COVAX, it will allow it to reach these people that need to have access to doses."

Learn more about how the GPB510 vaccine was created in our news release.

Access downloadable video assets featuring David Veesler and Neil King.