A China-developed adenovirus vector-based COVID-19 vaccine: review of the development and application of Ad5-nCov

• Published in: Expert review of vaccines Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 704 - 713
• Main Authors: Wang, Shen-Yu, Liu, Wen-Qing, Li, Yu-Qing, Li, Jing-Xin, Zhu, Feng-Cai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 31.12.2023
• Subjects: ad5-ncov; adenovirus type-5; aerosol inhalation; covid-19 vaccine; effectiveness; immunogenicity; prime-boost strategy; safety; effectiveness; adenovirus type-5; safety; COVID-19 vaccine; heterologous; aerosol inhalation; prime-boost strategy; Ad5-nCov; immunogenicity; Ad vectored vaccine
• ISSN: 1476-0584; 1744-8395; 1744-8395
• DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2242528

The global spread of COVID-19 has prompted the development of vaccines. A recombinant adenovirus type-5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) developed by Chinese scientists has been authorized for use as a prime and booster dose in China and other several countries. We searched published articles as of 4 May 2023, on PubMed using keywords related to Adenovirus vector, vaccine, and SARS-CoV-2. We reported the progress and outcomes of Ad5-nCov, including vaccine efficacy, safety, immunogenicity based on pre-clinical trials, clinical trials, and real-world studies for primary and booster doses. Ad5-nCoV is a significant advancement in Chinese vaccine development technology. Evidence from clinical trials and real-world studies has demonstrated well-tolerated, highly immunogenic, and efficacy of Ad5-nCoV in preventing severe/critical COVID-19. Aerosolized Ad5-nCoV, given via a novel route, could elicit mucosal immunity and improve the vaccine efficacy, enhance the production capacity and availability, and reduce the potential negative impact of pre-existing antibodies. However, additional research is necessary to evaluate the long-term safety and immunogenicity of Ad5-nCoV, its efficacy against emerging variants, its effectiveness in a real-world context of hybrid immunity, and its cost-effectiveness, particularly with respect to aerosolized Ad5-nCoV.