It’s time to continue exploring promising avenues for potential solutions….

After nearly 4 years of studying the Covid-19 pandemic on a daily basis, I have decided to change course. Over the last 4 years, I have mainly focused on studying the effect of collective (i.e., population-level) immunity, which can either fuel virus spread and evolution when it is insufficient to eliminate the virus (e.g., in the case of vaccination during a pandemic!), or control viral transmission (e.g., in the case of herd immunity acquired during a natural pandemic).

Because my extensive professional experience with vaccines increasingly led me to understand that the greatest challenge in designing efficient vaccines against chronic/ recurrent infectious or immune-mediated, non-infectious diseases (including cancer) is immune evasion, I have specialized in the last 12 years of my career in designing a completely new concept of vaccines that is not subject to immune evasion and is also safe. The entity I founded several years ago is not coincidentally named COIMEVA, which stands for COuntering IMmune EVAsion.

When I learned at the end of 2020 that the WHO did indeed intend to start mass vaccination in the midst of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (!), I knew that such a strategy would inevitably lead to viral immune evasion, even though SARS-CoV-2 causes acute, self-limiting infections rather than chronic ones (i.e., in the vast majority of cases the virus is completely eliminated from the body by the host immune system after infection/illness). Therefore, in early 2021, I made an almost pleading appeal to the WHO to abandon their ‘mass vaccination’ plan. Back then, the probably most renowned and respected vaccinologist on this planet agreed with my deep concerns but indicated in his email that I would not be able to oppose the powerful mainstream. Of course, I already knew that, based on my previous experiences with all the players involved in this global operation. However, what I will certainly remember for the rest of my life is that this icon in the vaccine field openly agreed with me, thereby immediately making it very clear that I could not count on support from the vaccine community to put a halt to this unbelievably stupid and dangerous initiative. Whereas at that time I was still one of the very few who were lying awake at night, fearing what I believed would become a gigantic catastrophe, resistance has since slowly but steadily grown much stronger.

On all fronts, highly skilled individuals have now thoroughly investigated and denounced the deception and various catastrophic consequences of the COVID-19 vaccination program. The battle progresses slowly and arduously but will undoubtedly be won because large-scale fraud always comes to light, and no one can escape the ancient laws of nature, which unquestionably will restore order in a host-pathogen system that has been heavily and widely disturbed. This realization runs like a common thread through my interviews, articles, book, lectures, and online courses. It is from these laws that I practice deductive science, allowing me to approach scientifically, in a holistic manner, the consequences of an ecosystem (virus-host-environment) profoundly disrupted by mass vaccination; it is from these very same laws that I predict the outcome... I will continue to hold onto the rope of scientific opposition, but given all the havoc wreaked, I believe there is now a more important task for me to pursue than to merely serve as a scientific activist.

I find it difficult to accept that I dedicated eight years of my life to uncovering and exploiting the healing potential of Natural Killer (NK) cells, only to now simply reconcile myself with the possibility that this technology may never see the light of day. Based on all the research conducted on the unique immunological properties of NK  cells, I believe there is a real chance that adequate education of these cells could offer an effective immunological solution to the deranged adaptive immunity of C-19 vaccinees. Therefore, I think it is more than time for me to further explore the potential of the safe and simple method I devised for training NK cells in vivo without having to expose the recipient to infectious virus. This effort may be more important than my contribution as a voice for science and solidarity, which is now resonated by many (but still by far too few) fellow fighters.

I will continue to support David in his fight against Goliath, but my scientific insight and biological instinct tell me that we will have to wait for Mother Nature's verdict regardless. How long it will take for that unfortunate mutation to be selected is difficult to predict. The daily monitoring of when and where this undesirable new variant may emerge is distressing beyond what I find acceptable. Instead of passively watching the spectacle unfold, it makes much more sense for me to work towards a potential solution. I am convinced and reassured that the fierce opposition against the political, economic, and academic establishments and elites will continue, even without me. This, however, does not apply to truly translational NK cell-based vaccine research, as progress in the academic field is still primarily limited to speculative publications on how the potential of these cells could possibly be used for harnessing the immune system against infected, or otherwise pathologically altered, host cells.

A final word on this technology. I have attached below a brief description of the concept (an unchanged 'teaser' dating back to when the greedy VCs were even begging to invest in this technology….). The concept sparked amazement and admiration from several vaccine companies, research institutions and investors to whom I pitched it. However, I soon realized that interest from the vaccine industry rapidly waned upon the realization that each NK cell antigen could serve to simultaneously combat several diseases, even of diverse types. Big pharma naturally prefers to develop a new vaccine for each disease, and - if possible -  even for each new serotype of infectious agents. While it is accepted that antibiotics work against different types of microorganisms, suggesting that vaccines, which stimulate our own, ‘endogenous’ antibiotics (i.e., in the form of elicited antibodies or immune effector cells), could achieve a similar effect is dismissed as utter nonsense.

I have filed provisional patents for the technology multiple times, but each time, I had to withdraw them because progress in generating results was too slow. The slow development was partly due to a lack of financing (I declined collaboration with corporate VCs for valid reasons) but also due to a lack of support from NK cell scientists who had both sufficient vaccine expertise and the interest to further explore and test this technology. Nonetheless, with limited resources, quite remarkable results were generated. But then the shareholders started quarreling over their shares, and some left like thieves in the night. I subsequently downsized the company, renamed it to ‘COIMEVA’, and continued on my own... But then SARS-CoV-2 emerged, and everything came to a halt because lab activities were suspended for several months.

It has never been my goal to become rich with this technology. Instead, it has always been my dream to make it available worldwide. Anyone willing to provide laboratory support, further finance this research, and assist in further developing the technology is welcome. Depending on parties’ interest, I would even consider transferring the technology to any entity that is willing to make NK cell vaccines arising from this technology available to those who need them most, in sufficient supply and at an affordable price (i.e., according to the so-called 'global access' principle). The question remains, however, as to whether an entity will be willing to provide the funds for further development, considering that no official patent has been filed at present. It also remains uncertain whether any of the few labs currently working with NK cells will still be willing to collaborate with me after all the negative criticism I have faced due to my outspoken disapproval of the Covid-19 mass vaccination program. Nonetheless, I have decided to refine and complete the concept so that I can at least share it publicly, should nobody be interested in helping to further develop the technology. The world will then have to decide what to do with this knowledge and discovery. But at the very least, that’s the kind of task I still want to accomplish. You never know...

Att.:

COIMEVA: Entering a new era in vaccines

HQ: Schoolstraat 9, 3040 Huldenberg, Belgium April 2019

Vaccines enabling universal, NK cell-mediated protection against multiple infectious or immune-mediated diseases

We are guided by the belief that a better understanding of the mechanisms of evolutionary immune adaptation of pathogenic agents to the host immune system will drive paradigm-shifting innovation in the vaccine field.

Summary

Coimeva (‘Countering immune evasion’) is a preclinical-stage biotechnology start-up company developing a first-of-its-kind technology which is capable of exploiting immune mechanisms that are naturally protective of ‘self’ to target highly conserved, vitally important pathogen-derived antigens, thereby activating self-centred NK cells. Coimeva vaccines are designed at preventing or treating a broad range of infectious, immune-mediated or oncologic diseases while avoiding immune escape. Coimeva vaccines have the unprecedented potential to meet medical needs for which prevention or treatment is currently not feasible or highly cost-ineffective.

Technology: countering natural infection or immuno-pathogenesis of disease

Coimeva revolutionises vaccinology by designing and developing universal vaccines that educate the host immune system to redirect immune targeting away from conventional, foreign antigens towards highly conserved, ‘self-mimicking’ antigens that are expressed at the surface of cellular microbial pathogens or at the surface of pathogen-infected, transformed or immunopathologically altered vertebrate host cells. Although ‘non-self’ and exposed on the surface of pathogens or infected or diseased host cells, these antigens are ignored or not effectively recognised by the host immune system while also subverting immune recognition of conventional pathogen-derived antigens as of an early stage of natural infection or immune pathogenesis. There is compelling evidence that structural or functional mimicry between ‘self-mimicking’ pathogen-associated antigens and components of cell surface-expressed MHC-associated self-proteins (which are critical to Ag presentation) or terminal self-glycan patterns (which are critical to immune modulation) underlies the mechanism of immune subversion. It is reasonable to assume that pathogens have evolved such molecular mimicry during their evolutionary adaptation to their natural host.

To target these self-mimicking, immune subversive motifs, Coimeva vaccines are designed to unlock the untapped potential of innate cell-mediated immunity by training MHC-unrestricted NK cells to specifically and durably recognise a broad and diversified spectrum of pathogen-derived self-mimicking peptides (PSMPs) or self-mimicking glycan (PSMG) patterns. By enabling presentation of self-peptides or self-glycans in a highly repetitive pattern on the surface of vertebrate cells, Coimeva vaccines prime a self-centred, NK cell-based immune response which is not directed at the very self-antigen but at pathogen-derived self-mimicking motifs. Preliminary in vivo data in a natural host-pathogen model suggest that the resulting self-centred immune response has the capacity to prevent infection or abrogate disease caused by a broad range of antigenically distinct pathogens (even including phylogenetically unrelated pathogens) across a diversified immunogenetic background of the host (even including phylogenetically unrelated vertebrate species). This is in sharp contrast to immune responses that are naturally induced by infection, immune-mediated or oncologic disease or which are elicited by contemporary vaccines, the efficacy of which is ‘restricted’ by antigenic variability of the pathogen and/ or the host’s MHC haplotypes.

Value proposition

•Truly universal vaccines, since overriding both, immunogenetic host polymorphism and Ag variation of the pathogen. Hence, one and the same vaccine protects against a diversified range of pathogens in several different vertebrate host species (enabling their usage in both, human and animal vaccines)

•Capable of countering immune escape strategies that pathogens deploy to adapt to their natural host

•Safe vaccines, since their targeting of immune subversive, pathogen-associated self-mimicking motifs relies on immune mechanisms that are naturally protective of ‘self‘

•Inducing immune responses that do not involve foreign-centred, Ag-specific or MHC-restricted immune effector or helper cells and don’t interfere with (passively or actively acquired) pre-existing immunity

•While targeting cell surface-expressed Ags, Coimeva vaccines have both, prophylactic and therapeutic potential

•Rapid onset (since relying on NK cells) and long-lasting effect (memory!) of vaccine-mediated immunity

•No need for adjuvants as the putative mechanism of action does not rely on innate immune signalling cascades or upregulation of MHC or co-stimulatory molecules

•Enhanced type hypersensitivity (ETH) response is NK cell-mediated and triggered by post-immunisation recall with relevant cell surface-expressed PSMPs or PSMG patterns (administered via intradermal inoculation); positive ETH reactivity may serve as a correlate of protection (CoP)

•The self-derived vaccine constructs are well-characterised; their chemical synthesis in high quantities and with high level of purity is fast, straightforward and highly cost-effective

•Based on the highly conserved nature of the vaccinal ‘self’ components, demonstration of vaccine-mediated immune protection in infectious challenge trials using a given ‘susceptible host-relevant pathogen’ model is thought to be predictive of immune protection conferred by the same vaccine in other susceptible vertebrate species (including humans)

•As Coimeva’s vaccines are not adjuvanted, they can readily be administered by the intradermal or mucosal route (i.e., needle- and pain-free)

Data

Four in vivo experiments provide initial supportive evidence for Coimeva’s value proposition:

•Outbred pigs immunised with Coimeva’s self-derived vaccine and subsequently challenged with a lethal dose of porcine -Herpesvirus (Pseudorabies):

90% of immunised as compared to 10% of control pigs were protected against or rapidly recovered from severe Herpes-associated disease.

•Outbred pigs immunised with Coimeva’s self-derived vaccine and

naturally exposed to circulating Enterovirus:

Immunised but not control pigs showed significant evidence of protection against natural infection based on lack of seroconversion to VP4.

•Two additional studies in pigs provided evidence that the vaccine induced immune responses that could be recalled by intradermal post-immunisation challenge (as shown by ETH assay), thereby providing first evidence of immunological memory. Immuno-histochemical analysis of biopsies suggested that ETH-mediated activation of NK cells may serve as a correlate of protection (CoP).

• None of the in vivo studies revealed any notable local reactogenicity or other

undesirable side-effects.

• Results from In vitro stimulation of chicken NK cells with autologous DCs loaded

with different concentrations of optimal (e.g., TP1) as compared to suboptimal

(e.g., TP6) self-derived vaccine constructs strongly suggest in vitro priming

capacity of Coimeva’s vaccine:

For more information please feel free to contact: geert.vandenbossche@live.be