AI-Designed Universal Coronavirus Vaccine Passes First Human Trial With No Serious Side Effects

<p>Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the spinout company DIOSynVax completed the first human clinical trial of a universal coronavirus vaccine in June 2026. The vaccine, called pEVAC-PS, was tested in 39 healthy volunteers at clinical research facilities in Cambridge and Southampton.</p>

<p>The trial found the vaccine to be safe and well-tolerated at all four dosage levels tested: 0.2 mg, 0.4 mg, 0.8 mg, and 1.2 mg. No significant side effects were reported.</p>

<p>The vaccine also triggered immune responses against SARS-CoV-2, the original SARS virus, and bat-derived coronaviruses that the volunteers had never been exposed to. This broad response is the key feature that distinguishes it from conventional vaccines, which target the spike protein of a specific circulating strain.</p>

<p>The vaccine was designed using artificial intelligence. Researchers fed the AI global genetic surveillance data, and it identified a "super-antigen" that targets conserved structural features shared across the entire Sarbeco family of coronaviruses. The goal is a vaccine that remains effective even as viruses mutate.</p>

<p>The vaccine was delivered using a needle-free micro-fluidic jet system, which researchers say could allow for faster, large-scale vaccination campaigns.</p>

<p>The vaccine is not yet ready for public use. The Phase 1 trial established safety and initial immune response. A larger Phase 2 trial is planned to assess effectiveness in a broader, more diverse population. Researchers are also exploring whether the same AI-driven design approach can be applied to influenza and Ebola.</p>