Advantages of Intranasal Vaccines

Most infectious diseases begin at mucosal surfaces—especially in the respiratory tract. Unlike traditional intramuscular vaccines, intranasal vaccines create a first line of defense directly at the site of pathogen entry by inducing secretory IgA antibodies. These antibodies not only block infection and reduce transmission but also exhibit broader cross-reactivity against viral variants due to their structural properties.

Beyond superior immunological advantages, intranasal vaccines are needle-free, less invasive, and more cost-effective. They minimize needle-related anxiety, reduce medical waste, and lower the risk of secondary infections. These benefits have positioned intranasal vaccines at the forefront of next-generation immunization strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted their importance, driving global recognition and investment in mucosal vaccine development.

Challenges in Intranasal Vaccine Development

The principle of vaccination is straightforward: present the immune system with antigens that safely elicit protective responses without causing disease. Achieving this without injection into blood or muscle, however, remains highly challenging. Developing an intranasal vaccine that is both safe and strongly immunogenic requires solving complex issues in formulation, delivery, and durability of immune protection.

Advagene's Breakthrough in Intranasal Vaccines

Advagene Biopharma has built a proprietary mucosal adjuvant platform that addresses long-standing bottlenecks in intranasal vaccine development. This platform technology is versatile, enabling the design of vaccines across multiple pathogens while offering convenient administration, simple storage, and added mucosal protection.

Our first vaccine—a seasonal intranasal influenza vaccine—has successfully completed Phase II clinical trials in elderly adults (ages 61–70). Results demonstrated an excellent safety profile and, importantly, showed that the vaccine induced robust mucosal IgA antibodies lasting up to six months, in addition to strong serum IgG responses. These findings, published in international journals, mark a global first and have attracted significant attention.

Building on this success, Advagene rapidly mobilized during the COVID-19 crisis, applying our platform to the development of an intranasal COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with partners. Preclinical studies confirmed that the vaccine elicited both IgA and IgG responses, providing systemic and mucosal protection. Critically, by reducing viral shedding, our candidate has the potential to address the limitations of injectable vaccines in curbing transmission, making it a promising tool for future pandemic preparedness.

At Advagene, we are redefining the future of vaccination—transforming needle-free intranasal delivery into a powerful platform to protect global health.

  

Intranasal vaccines can induce IgA antibodies and tissue-resident memory lymphocytes in the respiratory mucosa, which injectable vaccines cannot achieve.

Clinical trials have confirmed that Advagene's intranasal vaccine induces virus-neutralizing mucosal IgA antibodies that persist for over six months.