New sa‑mRNA and LNP Platform to Support Korea’s Hantavirus Vaccine Initiative

With hantavirus thrust into the public spotlight in recent months, a new effort in South Korea aims to advance vaccine development against the rodent-borne pathogen using mRNA technologies.

Korea University College of Medicine has been selected to lead a government-supported initiative focused on developing next-generation hantavirus vaccines. The program will be conducted through the institution’s Vaccine Innovation Center.

Hantaviruses are carried primarily by rodents and can infect humans through exposure to contaminated urine, droppings, or saliva. Depending on the viral strain, infection can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory illness, or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), a disease characterized by kidney dysfunction and bleeding complications. Although relatively rare, hantavirus infections can carry high mortality rates and remain a public health concern in parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

The renewed focus on vaccine development comes amid growing interest in preparedness for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. While mRNA technology gained worldwide recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have increasingly explored its application against a broader range of viral threats.

According to Korea University, the newly funded program will leverage the rapid development potential of mRNA platforms to generate vaccine candidates targeting hantavirus infection.

“The Vaccine Innovation Center is the only private-sector vaccine research and development institute in Korea established to carry forward the scientific legacy of Dr. Ho-Wang Lee, who first discovered the hantavirus,” said Hee-Jin Cheong, MD, PhD, director of the Vaccine Innovation Center. “Beginning with hantavirus vaccine development, we aim to lead infectious disease research in Korea and contribute to improving public health.”

The initiative will draw on two domestically developed technologies: self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) and a next-generation lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform. Unlike conventional mRNA vaccines, sa-mRNA contains genetic instructions that enable replication of the RNA within cells, potentially generating stronger immune responses while requiring lower doses. The platform is intended to support rapid vaccine development and manufacturing while reducing dependence on overseas intellectual property.

The project builds on research conducted over the past two years at the Vaccine Innovation Center in collaboration with Moderna. The new program will seek to translate preclinical study findings into a next-generation vaccine candidate developed in partnership with biotechnology companies.

Under the two-year project timeline, researchers will spend the first year optimizing vaccine candidates and evaluating their efficacy. The second year will focus on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant production and safety testing.

Researchers have increasingly viewed mRNA platforms as particularly attractive because they can be rapidly redesigned when emerging threats arise. Lessons learned from COVID-19 vaccine development have helped establish manufacturing, regulatory, and clinical frameworks that may accelerate future vaccine programs.

As concern over emerging infectious diseases continues to shape global health priorities, programs such as this one may help expand the range of vaccine technologies available to combat pathogens that have historically received limited research attention.

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