Delft, The Netherlands, September 10, 2026
AdJane Biosciences has announced the publication of a new white paper, “Boosting mRNA: Mucosal Immunity and a Platform Beyond It,” outlining a potential strategy to complement established intramuscular respiratory vaccines with an intranasal mucosal booster. The approach uses AdJane’s clinically validated Neisseria meningitidis native Outer Membrane Vesicle (Nm-nOMV) platform to potentially generate additional immune responses at respiratory mucosal surfaces, where many respiratory pathogens first enter the body. The strategy is designed to build on existing systemic immunity rather than replace established vaccination approaches.
AdJane Develops Mucosal Booster for mRNA Vaccines
The AdJane Nm-nOMV platform is designed to complement the strong systemic immunity generated by existing intramuscular vaccines with a targeted immune response at the respiratory mucosa. Conventional intramuscular respiratory vaccines can provide substantial protection against severe disease, but generally generate more limited immunity at mucosal surfaces. AdJane’s white paper explores whether an intranasal Nm-nOMV booster administered after an established intramuscular vaccine could address this gap. The proposed approach follows a heterologous prime-boost strategy, in which an individual first receives an established intramuscular vaccine to generate systemic immunity and subsequently receives an intranasal Nm-nOMV vaccine intended to stimulate complementary mucosal immunity. According to AdJane, this strategy could allow vaccine developers to preserve existing vaccine infrastructure and broad coverage while adding a proprietary mucosal component to next-generation respiratory vaccination regimens. The company believes that mucosal IgA responses could play an important role in reducing infection and transmission because respiratory pathogens frequently encounter mucosal surfaces before establishing infection. However, further clinical studies will be required to determine the magnitude, durability and clinical relevance of the additional immune response generated by the booster approach.
Phase I Data Support Mucosal Immunity Concept
AdJane’s strategy is supported by initial findings from its recently completed Phase I clinical study, which provided early human evidence for the company’s mucosal vaccination approach. In a post-hoc identified subset of participants who had previously received Pfizer and/or Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, subsequent intranasal administration of an Nm-nOMV vaccine displaying SARS-CoV-2 Spike was reported to be well tolerated and associated with significant nasal IgA responses. These observations provide preliminary support for the concept of systemic vaccination followed by intranasal Nm-nOMV boosting. The findings are particularly relevant to the white paper’s focus on mRNA vaccination because they suggest that an intranasal component could potentially be added after established systemic priming. The company emphasizes that the clinical observations represent initial human evidence, rather than definitive proof that the strategy can reduce respiratory infection or transmission. Additional controlled clinical studies will be needed to establish the potential clinical benefits and determine how durable the mucosal response may be.
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AdJane Expands Nm-nOMV Vaccine Platform
The Nm-nOMV platform forms the foundation of AdJane’s broader vaccine development strategy. The technology is based on native outer membrane vesicles derived from Neisseria meningitidis and is designed to provide intrinsic immune stimulation while supporting antigen presentation. AdJane’s platform has been developed through more than 30 years of Dutch vaccine research and has progressed into clinical evaluation. Beyond its potential application as a mucosal booster for existing respiratory vaccines, AdJane is developing the platform across multiple viral and bacterial infectious disease programs. The company has established intellectual property covering its platform, manufacturing processes, mucosal dosing approaches and specific vaccine applications, and has also filed patent applications relating to combinations of OMV technology with mRNA vaccines and respiratory vaccines. Potential future applications of the booster strategy could extend across COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), combination respiratory vaccines and pandemic preparedness. AdJane’s broader platform is also being evaluated in antimicrobial-resistance applications and other infectious-disease settings. The publication of the “Boosting mRNA” white paper highlights AdJane’s effort to develop a new vaccination model in which established systemic vaccines could potentially be complemented by proprietary mucosal immunity. Further clinical validation will be critical to determine whether the approach can translate its early immunogenicity findings into meaningful protection against respiratory infection and transmission.
Source: AdJane Biosciences press release
