Sting Pathway Activation by Orally Administered Attenuated dsRNA Vaccine Virus for Therapy of Viral Diseases

Abstract

Even after the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the world's vaccine strategy is failing because vaccines are produced only after an epidemic is under way. This article argues that vaccination alone will not be sufficient to control COVID-19 or any other future pandemic (e.g., flu). Using non-pathogenic viruses to control unrelated ongoing infections could complement vaccination efforts. The attenuated dsRNA Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV), the drug candidate of the clinically validated orally administered viral superinfection therapy (SIT), is close to regulatory approval. IBDV signals the innate Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) pathway and has been proven to be safe and effective against five different families of viruses: hepatitis A, B, and C viruses (HAV, HBV, HCV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and herpes zoster viruses (HZV). Here, a blueprint for a registration strategy is proposed. Attenuated IBDV is a repurposed drug candidate as it has been used safely during 60 years of IBDV mass vaccination programs in poultry. IBDV can therefore be produced faster, cheaper, with less risk, and with higher success rates than traditional drug development. With SIT, a repeat of the US$12 trillion the world just spent on COVID-19 can be avoided.