Worlds first self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) vaccine approved in Japan

On November 28, 2023 Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approves CSL Seqirus and Arcturus Therapeutics‘ ARCT-154, the first Self-Amplifying mRNA vaccine (saRNA) approved for COVID in adults [1, 2, 3]

“CSL’s vaccine business, CSL Seqirus, one of the largest influenza vaccine providers in the world, partnered exclusively with Meiji Seika Pharma for distribution of the sa-mRNA COVID vaccine, ARCT 154, in Japan.”

“Different from standard mRNA vaccines, self-amplifying-mRNA vaccines instruct the body to make more mRNA and protein to achieve a higher immune response. Self-amplifying mRNA vaccines contain a smaller dose of mRNA yet yield a strong immune response.” [4]

CSL was formally Australia’s Commonwealth Serum Laboratory making anit-toxins, then mass producing Australia’s polio vaccine in 1956.  CSL was privatised in 1991, and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1994 and went on to make many more vaccines [5]