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MARTIN BAHMAN
It will put everyone 10 years since the virus is genetically stable
RBD-CuMVtt. Behind this encrypted combination of letters lies one of the greatest hopes in the battle against the coronavirus. The substance was created in the laboratory by immunologist Martin Bachman. Exclusive interview with the TCS MyMed exercise:
“Professor, will you save us all?”
– (Laughs) We are just trying as fast as possible to create a vaccine that works for all Swiss.
“You are almost certain that you have found an effective weapon against the invisible enemy. What makes you so convinced?
– We already have several candidates and we can induce virus neutralizing antibodies in experimental animals. Simply put, these antibodies kill the virus. Now we must prioritize this vaccine so that it is distributed and produced in large quantities.
– In general, health authorities and professionals refrain from exceeding expectations. Even if your vaccine is sped up, it will still take at least another year. What are your forecasts?
– We have a detailed plan and we work closely with the authorities. It’s ambitious, but we still want to vaccinate all the Swiss in half a year. To this end, some rules must now be amended in the context of the pandemic plan.
– Development is expensive – Is it open to private investors?
– The Zurich University Hospital Foundation, as a non-governmental organization, supports medical research and innovation, as well as talented young people from the university. Now the foundation is trying to raise 100 million Swiss francs for our project and it seems that we are on the right track, I am hopeful.
– How does the vaccine work?
– To create the vaccine, we are targeting a particular part of the virus: enriched proteins. These are the protruding cones that give the virus its characteristic shape. They make it dangerous because they are a type of key that penetrates the body’s cell, turning the virus into a virus factory.
“And so?”
– The vaccine stimulates the body even before the first encounter with the true virus to build antibodies. For this purpose, a small component of these spikes is isolated on the surface of the virus, which the body can recognize. These protein particles multiply in the laboratory and stick to an inactive viral particle, ultimately producing a non-dangerous mimic of the virus that causes the immune system to produce the correct antibodies. Simply put, our vaccine prevents the virus from coming into contact with the call. ACE2 receptors can therefore be neutralized.
– Should this vaccine be fought once, like measles, or every year?
“We don’t know yet, but we can assume that we won’t need vaccines every year, maybe every 10 years. Because the virus is genetically stable.
– He announced that he would be the first to test the vaccine. Aren’t you afraid of negative side effects?
– (Laughs) Overall And I don’t know why everyone is so concerned.
– According to the publications, the vaccine has a positive effect on mice. What do you need to change to achieve the desired human effect?
– Nothing, we’re done.
– How will you meet the great demand in the world if the vaccine is successful?
– The plan is to provide enough for Switzerland and then we will think about the rest of the world. Production will be very expensive and most of the funds will be reinvested in it.
– Where will the production be?
– We still don’t know exactly where, but it will be in Switzerland.
– What price will you target?
– It is too early to name a price. It does not have to be expensive for all Swiss.
– How is your work day, does the vaccine change your other projects?
– I’m not dealing with anything else right now!
– What did you learn from the coronavirus crisis?
– I am surprised at how little it takes to unbalance the world, how fragile our society is.
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