VACCINATION WITH mRNA-CODED ANTIGENS

Abstract

The present invention relates to vaccines comprising at least one mRNA encoding at least one antigen for use in the treatment of a disease in an elderly patient preferably exhibiting an age of at least 50 years, more preferably of at least 55 years, 60 years, 65 years, 70 years, or older, wherein the treatment comprises vaccination of the patient and eliciting an immune response in said patient. The present invention is furthermore directed to kits and kits of parts comprising such a vaccine and/or its components and to methods applying such a vaccine or kit.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for stimulating an anti-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) response in a patient comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a mRNA in a lipid particle, wherein the mRNA encodes an RSV antigen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the lipid particle is a lipid nanoparticle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the lipid nanoparticle comprises one or more cationic lipids. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the patient exhibits an age of at least 55 years, 60 years, 65 years, 70 years, or older. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the RSV antigen is RSV F protein. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition is administered parenterally. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition is administered intradermally. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mRNA comprises an increased G/C content relative to wild type RNA encoding the RSV antigen. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises the mRNA in an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising administering an adjuvant to the patient. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the adjuvant is immunostimulatory RNA (isRNA). 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mRNA comprises a 5′ cap and/or a polyA tail. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the RSV antigen is RSV F protein, wherein the mRNA comprises an increased G/C content relative to wild type RNA encoding the RSV F protein and wherein the wherein the composition is administered parenterally. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the mRNA comprises a 5′ cap and a polyA tail. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the patient exhibits an age of at least 60 years. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the mRNA comprises at least one nucleotide substituted with an analog of the naturally occurring nucleotide. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising administering the composition at least a second time. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mRNA comprises at least one nucleotide substituted with an analog of the naturally occurring nucleotide. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising administering the composition at least a second time.