This week’s Vaccine Research update highlights regulatory progress, early clinical advances, platform innovation, investment activity, and emerging real-world evidence across infectious disease and therapeutic vaccine development.
In Today’s Newsletter
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💉 Merck Capvaxive pediatric expansion [1] [US • 19 Jun 2026]
https://www.contagionlive.com/view/fda-expands-merck-pneumococcal-vaccine-indication-to-include-at-risk-children-and-adolescents
Context: Phase 3 STRIDE-13 enrolled 874 at-risk children and adolescents aged 2–17 after primary pneumococcal vaccination.
Key point: FDA expanded Capvaxive use for at-risk pediatric patients; the vaccine met noninferiority criteria for shared serotypes.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
🧬 Replicate Bioscience TB srRNA grant [2] [US • 19 Jun 2026]
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/replicate-bioscience-awarded-grant-to-advance-srrna-vaccine-candidates-for-tuberculosis-302804935.html
Context: Replicate Bioscience is applying its self-replicating RNA platform to tuberculosis, following srRNA work in rabies, HIV, and malaria.
Key point: The Gates Foundation awarded about $3 million to support TB vaccine candidate development under humanitarian licensing terms.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
🦠 LASSARAB first-in-human Phase 1 data [3] [21 Jun 2026]
https://www.contagionlive.com/view/vaccine-for-lassa-fever-succeeds-in-first-in-human-trial
Context: The adjuvanted inactivated rabies-vectored Lassa vaccine was tested in 54 healthy adults, with follow-up planned through day 394.
Key point: LASSARAB produced clinically significant immunogenicity against Lassa virus and rabies, with mostly mild, self-limited adverse events.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
🎯 Transgene TG4070 enters adjuvant NSCLC trial [4] [EU • 22 Jun 2026]
https://www.transgene.com/wp-content/uploads/20260622_TG4070_EN.pdf
Context: TG4070 is an individualized neoantigen therapeutic vaccine from Transgene’s myvac platform, using MVA vector technology.
Key point: Transgene initiated a randomized Phase 1 trial of TG4070 plus nivolumab in adjuvant resected NSCLC.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
💰 K-Bio·Vaccine Fund No. 7 targets 200 billion won [5] [South Korea • 24 Jun 2026]
https://www.asiae.co.kr/en/article/bio-health/2026062408554560181
Context: South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare selected Premier Partners as lead manager through Korea Venture Investment.
Key point: The fund targets up to 200 billion won, with investment focus on domestic biohealth and innovative vaccine technologies.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
❤️ COVID-19 vaccine linked to lower cardiovascular risk [6] [US • 24 Jun 2026]
https://www.emjreviews.com/general-healthcare/news/covid-vaccine-tied-to-lower-risk-of-heart-attack/
Context: Target-trial emulation used electronic health records from more than 1 million US veterans during 03 Sep–31 Dec 2024.
Key point: The 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine was associated with lower COVID-19-associated major adverse cardiovascular events.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
Why it matters
- Pediatric pneumococcal prevention is moving toward more targeted use in medically at-risk populations.
- RNA vaccine platforms continue to expand beyond COVID-19 into TB, HIV, malaria, and rabies.
- Combination and dual-pathogen vaccine strategies are gaining attention for settings with delivery constraints.
- Personalized cancer vaccines remain active in early-stage solid tumors, especially alongside checkpoint inhibitors.
- Public and private capital is being directed into biohealth, vaccine manufacturing, and late-stage clinical development.
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FAQ
What changed for Merck Capvaxive?
FDA expanded Capvaxive for at-risk children and adolescents aged 2–17 who completed a primary pneumococcal vaccination series. The decision was supported by STRIDE-13 data [1].
What is Replicate Bioscience using the Gates Foundation grant for?
Replicate will use the grant to advance self-replicating RNA tuberculosis vaccine candidates. The grant is about $3 million and includes humanitarian licensing terms [2].
What did the LASSARAB Phase 1 study show?
LASSARAB showed immune responses against Lassa virus and rabies after two doses, with adverse events described as mostly mild and self-limited. Durability follow-up continues [3].
What is Transgene TG4070?
TG4070 is an individualized neoantigen therapeutic vaccine for resected NSCLC, tested with nivolumab in a randomized Phase 1 adjuvant trial [4].
What is the purpose of K-Bio·Vaccine Fund No. 7?
The fund is designed to support domestic biohealth companies and innovative vaccine technologies and manufacturing processes in South Korea [5].
What did the COVID-19 vaccine cardiovascular study evaluate?
The analysis compared US veterans receiving the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine with those receiving influenza vaccine alone, assessing cardiovascular outcomes over eight months [6].
Entities / Keywords
Merck Capvaxive, Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine, STRIDE-13, PPSV23, pediatric pneumococcal disease
Replicate Bioscience, Gates Foundation, self-replicating RNA, srRNA, tuberculosis vaccine, RBI-4000
LASSARAB, Lassa fever vaccine, rabies-vectored vaccine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University
Transgene, TG4070, myvac, SNIPER, VacDesignR, individualized neoantigen therapeutic vaccine, NSCLC, nivolumab
K-Bio·Vaccine Fund No. 7, Premier Partners, South Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Venture Investment
2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine, US veterans, major adverse cardiovascular events, target-trial emulation
References
- https://www.contagionlive.com/view/fda-expands-merck-pneumococcal-vaccine-indication-to-include-at-risk-children-and-adolescents
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/replicate-bioscience-awarded-grant-to-advance-srrna-vaccine-candidates-for-tuberculosis-302804935.html
- https://www.contagionlive.com/view/vaccine-for-lassa-fever-succeeds-in-first-in-human-trial
- https://www.transgene.com/wp-content/uploads/20260622_TG4070_EN.pdf
- https://www.asiae.co.kr/en/article/bio-health/2026062408554560181
- https://www.emjreviews.com/general-healthcare/news/covid-vaccine-tied-to-lower-risk-of-heart-attack/