Development of an Inactivated Vaccine Candidate, BBIBP-CorV, with Potent Protection against SARS-CoV-2

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) threatens global public health. The development of a vaccine is urgently needed for the prevention and control of COVID-19. Here, we report the pilot-scale production of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate (BBIBP-CorV) that induces high levels of neutralizing antibodies titers in mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and nonhuman primates (cynomolgus monkeys and rhesus macaques) to provide protection against SARS-CoV-2. Two-dose immunizations using 2 μg/dose of BBIBP-CorV provided highly efficient protection against SARS-CoV-2 intratracheal challenge in rhesus macaques, without detectable antibody-dependent enhancement of infection. In addition, BBIBP-CorV exhibits efficient productivity and good genetic stability for vaccine manufacture. These results support the further evaluation of BBIBP-CorV in a clinical trial. [Display omitted] •An inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, BBIBP-CorV, is developed•BBIBP-CorV induces high levels of neutralizing antibodies titers in animal models•Two-dose immunization with 2 μg/dose BBIBP-CorV efficiently protects rhesus macaques•BBIBP-CorV is efficiently produced, genetically stable, and seems to be safe in animals Wang et al. report the development, characterization, and preclinical evaluation of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate for COVID-19 that safely induces high levels of neutralizing antibodies in multiple mammalian species and protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in rhesus macaques.