How a Specific mRNA Vaccine for COVID-19 is Designed

This patent describes specific messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences designed to teach the body to fight the COVID-19 virus by producing parts of the virus, like its spike protein, to trigger an immune response.

What it covers

This technology describes a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule that carries instructions for human cells to make specific parts of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Specifically, the mRNA includes one or more 'coding regions' that tell cells to produce a 'peptide' (a small protein) derived from the COVID-19 virus, as detailed in claim 1. These peptides can include the virus's 'spike protein' (claim 4), the 'receptor-binding motif' (RBM) (claim 6), the 'nucleocapsid protein' (NCP) (claim 8), or the 'FuPep region' of the spike protein (claim 10). The mRNA also includes specific structural features like a 5' N7-methylguanine cap (claim 12) and untranslated regions (UTRs) from *Xenopus laevis* (African clawed frog) (claim 14), which help the mRNA function effectively in the body. For example, an mRNA molecule described here might instruct your cells to produce the COVID-19 spike protein, which then trains your immune system to recognize and fight the real virus.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover non-mRNA vaccine technologies, such as traditional protein-based, inactivated virus, or viral vector vaccines.
• —Does not cover mRNA vaccines designed to target viruses or pathogens other than the COVID-19 coronavirus.
• —Does not cover mRNA sequences that encode for COVID-19 peptides significantly different from those specified by SEQ ID NOs. 4-6, 12-15, and 17, or their variants with less than 95% sequence identity.
• —Does not cover mRNA constructs that lack a 5' N7-methylguanine cap or the specific 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) as described in the claims.
• —Does not cover mRNA that does not include a signal coding sequence, such as an IgE signal coding sequence, if that feature is present.

The clever bit

The clever bit is the precise recipe for the mRNA molecule itself. It involves selecting specific genetic sequences from the COVID-19 virus that, when translated into proteins, can effectively trigger an immune response, combined with specific non-coding regions and caps that ensure the mRNA is stable and efficiently used by human cells.

Why it matters

This patent contributes to the specific design of mRNA vaccines, a technology that proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. By defining precise mRNA sequences and structural components, it aims to create an effective way for the body to generate an immune response against the coronavirus. The ability to rapidly design and produce such vaccines was a major factor in global health efforts.

Real-world examples

• 1.Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty)
• 2.Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax)
• 3.Other mRNA-based vaccine candidates for infectious diseases