ZF2001, A Protein Subunit Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Anhui Zhifei Longcom ‘s Zifivax, also known as ZF2001 (ZF-UZ-VAC-2001) is a protein subunit vaccine using a dimeric form of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) as the antigen, a harmless piece of the SARS-Cov-2 virus. As of June, 2022, over 300 million doses of Zifivax have been vaccinated with localized production in China base and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. At present, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is constantly mutating and evolving, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic is seriously threatening human health. Vaccination is the most effective and economical method to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic. Research institutions and companies around the world are employing various techniques to develop COVID-19 vaccines. According to the preparation technology, COVID-19 vaccines can be classified as inactivated virus vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, mRNA vaccines, DNA vaccines, viral vector vaccines, virus-like particle vaccines and protein subunit vaccines. Among these, viral protein subunit vaccines based on in vitro production of key viral proteins or peptides from bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian cells have been drawing attention owing to their advantages of high safety and effectiveness, low cost of production, storage and transportation. Givrn this, this study reviewed the research and development status of ZF2001, as a reference for the development of protein subunit vaccines against SARS-Cov-2.