In-Use Stability and Device Compatibility Define Clinically Actionable Handling Limits for a GMP-Produced Attenuated Listeria monocytogenes Vaccine Expressing GUCY2C.

Background

Live-attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) vectors are a clinically validated cancer immunotherapy platform, but translation requires reproducible, clinically realistic workflows for dose preparation and infusion. For live bacterial products, in-use stability and device compatibility can drive dose variability through adsorption, settling, and device losses.

Methods

We developed and GMP-manufactured an attenuated Lm vaccine expressing human GUCY2C (Lm-GUCY2C) and performed translational characterization, including construct verification and immunogenicity readouts, and defined the administration-focused in-use stability and device compatibility. Post-thaw stability was assessed in primary cryovials and during preparation and delivery from 250 mL saline infusion bags using standard clinical devices (syringes/needles, filter-free IV tubing) and OnGuard2 closed-system components. Samples were collected over 24 h at room temperature, and viable Lm-GUCY2C were quantified by CFU recovery.

Results

Lm-GUCY2C remained stable in thawed cryovials for 24 h with no significant CFU loss. High-dose infusion bags (3 × 109 CFU/bag) maintained CFU recovery through 6 h, whereas low-dose bags (3 × 108 CFU/bag) exhibited significant losses beginning at 3 h, supporting a practical in-use window of up to 2 h for low-dose preparations. OnGuard2 intravenous (i.v.) connectors did not measurably affect CFU recovery, while OnGuard2 vial adapters reduced recovery.

Conclusions

This work provides an end-to-end, translationally focused characterization of a GMP-manufactured Lm cancer vaccine, including clinically actionable in-use handling constraints and device compatibility. These data define preparation and administration guardrails (notably, time-to-infusion limits for low-dose bag preparations) that can improve dose accuracy and reproducibility in clinical testing.