AI-Designed Coronavirus Vaccine Enters Human Testing
Researchers have reported the first human trial of a vaccine whose active component was designed entirely through computer simulations. The vaccine, called pEVAC-PS, was developed by scientists from the University of Southampton, the University of Cambridge, and DIOSynVax Ltd. It is intended to protect against a broad group of coronaviruses related to SARS and COVID-19, including possible future variants.
According to a June 2026 Journal of Infection study, the phase I trial enrolled 39 healthy adults in the United Kingdom between December 2021 and September 2023. Participants had previously received two or three COVID-19 vaccine doses and were assigned to four dosage groups. Each received two doses of pEVAC-PS four weeks apart using a needle-free device that delivers the DNA-based vaccine just under the skin.
The trial found the vaccine was generally well tolerated. No serious adverse events were reported, and most side effects were mild or moderate, such as injection-site soreness or fatigue. Researchers also noted that side effects did not increase at higher doses and were less common after the second dose.
Immune responses were more limited. The vaccine did not substantially raise antibody levels beyond those already present from earlier vaccination or infection. The highest-dose group showed a small statistically significant increase in antibodies targeting the vaccine’s designed spike protein region, and some neutralizing activity appeared against Delta and Omicron BA.1. However, activity was not seen against the original Wuhan strain or SARS-CoV-1.
Researchers said the findings support further study of AI-designed broad-spectrum vaccines, but larger trials are needed to assess effectiveness in more diverse populations. Outside experts quoted in the report said AI may help researchers identify conserved viral targets and shorten vaccine development timelines, while the current data remain preliminary. The approach could also aid future influenza, HIV, and biosafety research, according to medical advisers.