Japan Preps for sa-mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Launch

The journal Nature Biotechnology volume recently confirmed that Japanese regulators are proceeding to launch a second-generation COVID-19 vaccine that uses self-amplifying messenger RNA (sa-mRNA), the first vaccine of this kind to get full approval.

According to the News in Brief article posted on January 17, 2024, the innovative sa-mRNA ARCT-154 vaccine enables host cells in the body to make copies of the mRNA that encodes viral replicase genes and immunogenic genes. 

Co-developed by Arcturus Therapeutics and CSL, ARCT-154 uses a lower concentration than conventional mRNA vaccines to achieve similar or better antigen expression, meaning they could be safer and manufactured on a large scale.

The vaccine's approval by Japan's Ministry of Health was announced in November 2023.

Japan has administered 434,119,370 COVID-19 vaccine doses throughout the pandemic as of January 16, 2024.

Arcturus and CSL have also filed an MAA for European regulatory approval of ARCT-154.