Oxford researchers have developed a potential vaccine for COVID-19. Early evidence from more than 1,000 clinical trial participants indicates that the treatment is safe and effective.
Advances in epidemiology are not our regular topic here at TNW, but the opportunity to finally post some real good news about the COVID-19 pandemic was too much for us to pass up.
The team, which included researchers from Oxford and Philipps University in Marburg, Germany, developed the vaccine, called the chimpanzee adenovirus vector vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19), by genetic engineering of a different virus known to cause the cold. common in chimpanzees.
While ChAdOx1nCoV-19 is not the first or only COVID-19 vaccine in clinical trials (there are actually around 140 in various stages of research at the moment), it could be the most promising. It not only triggers positive antibodies to fight the coronavirus, but also antiviral T cells.
A study published today in The Lancet indicates that the vaccine has passed level one and two clinical trials without a propensity for serious side effects. Although 70% of healthy test subjects reported fever, headache, or both. The researchers are confident that these side effects can be mitigated in a finished vaccine.
According to the study, nearly all participants in the drug trial, approximately nine out of ten, showed antibody and T-cell responses. A small control group of participants who received a second dose showed a positive immune system response to COVID. -19.
Stage three clinical trials have already started with more than 10,000 participants. This testing phase requires raising doses in patients until the anticipated immune response or harmful side effects reach a predetermined threshold.
Quick take: This is good news, but take it with a grain of salt. Other trials are actually more advanced. Even if everything works perfectly, there is very little chance that this vaccine will reach the general public in the UK before the end of 2021.
But that does not mean that we cannot be optimistic. The UK has already ordered over 100 million doses of ChAdOx1nCoV-19 because this trial is the most promising so far.
As a trial participant recently noted in an interview with Salome Phelamei of Times Now News:
The speed of this test was the discussion between me and my wife because we are both pharmaceutical professionals. Then there is also the consideration that time is not in our favor. There are lives of the masses at stake and there is a swooping economy. It still amazes me, but I’m sure because the encouraging part is that if Phase 2 was successful with 1,000 volunteers, then they will only go for the 10,000 that started the last week of June. So this gives me hope, yes the trial is going well.
Once the vaccine finishes Stage Three trials, it can be approved by government agencies for use. Then you will come to stage four trials where we will see how it compares to similar treatments. If all goes well, we could possibly see first responders and critical care patients receiving doses before the end of the year.
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