First AI-Designed Vaccine Is Tested in People

Researchers at the University of Cambridge developed the first human vaccine designed by artificial intelligence and tested it successfully in people. The vaccine is meant to protect against sarbecoviruses, a group that includes SARS and SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19. Unlike traditional vaccines, it was built with a predictive method that looks at several coronaviruses and finds shared parts. Scientists used those common parts to create a synthetic target for the immune system. The vaccine also uses a needle-free delivery system called a jet injector. The first trial was small and included 39 people. It mainly checked safety, and it produced a modest immune response. A second trial with 200 participants is now underway to see how well it works. Experts say much larger studies are still needed before anyone can say it is safe and effective for everyday use.