"New Vaccines and Inhibitors Show Promise Against Omicron Variants"

A novel vaccine candidate known as CF501/RBD-Fc has been found to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BQ.1.1 and XBB in a rhesus macaque animal model. The vaccine comprised the human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) fraction, crystallizable (Fc)-conjugated receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral WA1 strain, in combination with a novel stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist-based adjuvant called CF501. The study findings confirm that CF501/RBD-Fc induced highly potent and persistent broad-neutralizing antibody (bnAb) responses against several SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron subvariants.