Preclinical immunogenicity of the LP.8.1-adapted BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine

Kurhade, C.; Chen, W.; Li, W.; Tompkins, K. R.; Martinez, L. T.; Rajput, S.; Babiarz, E.; Yam, A.; Lee, S.-A.; Shrivastava, S.; O'Leary, S.; Saha, S.; Yao, H.; Hao, L.; Coffey, T.; Couto, C. I. C.; Muik, A.; Moreno, R. M.; Swanson, W.; Daroca, P. M.; Sahin, U.; Anderson, A. S.; Swanson, K. A.; Allen, P. S.; Modjarrad, K.

doi:10.64898/2025.12.15.694478

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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2025.12.15.694478

Preclinical immunogenicity of the LP.8.1-adapted BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine

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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 evolution toward antigenically distinct lineages drives escape from host immunity. JN.1 lineage derivatives have recently dominated the global epidemiologic landscape. In preclinical models, an LP.8.1-adapted BNT162b2 vaccine elicited higher serum neutralizing antibody responses against contemporary, circulating JN.1 sublineages, including the currently dominant XFG, as compared to JN.1-, KP.2- and XEC-adapted vaccines. These findings supported the selection of an LP.8.1-adapted vaccine for the composition of the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine formula.

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Kurhade, C., Chen, W., Li, W., Tompkins, K. R., Martinez, L. T., Rajput, S., Babiarz, E., Yam, A., Lee, S.-A., Shrivastava, S., O'Leary, S., Saha, S., Yao, H., Hao, L., Coffey, T., Couto, C. I. C., Muik, A., Moreno, R. M., Swanson, W., Daroca, P. M., Sahin, U., Anderson, A. S., Swanson, K. A., Allen, P. S., Modjarrad, K.. 2025-12-16. Preclinical immunogenicity of the LP.8.1-adapted BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. https://doi.org/10.64898/2025.12.15.694478

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