The new vaccine on its way to Sweden

Janssen

Janssen’s vaccine is a so-called viral vector vaccine, where the company uses a genetically modified human cold virus to introduce the genetic code for the coronavirus nail protein into cells. The immune system then begins to produce antibodies against the nail protein, so that you are protected against infection.

Studies in the US, South Africa and Brazil show that the vaccine provides more than 85% protection against serious diseases and 66% protection if moderate cases are included, says the BBC.

One problem with the virus vector vaccine is that the body can start to make antibodies against the vaccine so that the next syringe does not bite.

– You may only be able to administer it once or twice before you become immune to the vaccine, says Sweden’s national vaccine coordinator Richard Bergström.

European Medicines Agency Scientific Committee The CHMP is expected to take a decision on the recommendation for approval by 11 March. The European Commission will probably decide on the approval on the same day.

Janssen, which is owned by the Johnson & Johnson Group, has signed an agreement with the EU to administer 200 million doses in 2021 with the option of another 200 doses at a later stage. For Sweden, it’s around 4.5 million doses this year and planned delivery will start in April.

– Unfortunately Janssen does not yet have the capacity to offer that much, it is developing its capacity. It’s the same in the United States, where they recently got their approval.

The EU recognizes that Janssen’s vaccine will be suitable for distribution to low-income countries, for example through the Covax vaccine exchange program.

– It is cheap, only requires cold storage and only takes one dose before being fully vaccinated.

Curevac

Curevac’s vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, which injects parts of the genetic code of the coronavirus. When the material enters the cells, they begin to produce viral proteins against which the immune system in turn produces antibodies.

Clinical trials have not yet been completed, but according to the vaccine coordinator, the vaccine is likely to be as effective as Pfizers and Modernas with 95% protection.

– There is nothing to suggest that it would have a different profile than the other two mrna vaccines. When you look at the results of the study, you see that the response to antibodies and cell-mediated protection is completely in line with each other, says Richard Bergström.

The EU has signed an agreement with the German pharmaceutical company for the purchase of 225 million doses from the second quarter and one year onwards. For Sweden, this is around 3.5 million doses this year.

The vaccine coordinator evaluates the vaccine can be approved by the end of April.

– There may already be some doses in April, but it is more realistic that it is in May-June.

The EU has the option to purchase an additional 180 million doses at a later stage.

– They become relevant as updates against virus mutations. It seems that the mrna vaccine will be at the forefront in the fight against new variants.

Novavax

The Novavax vaccine is a protein vaccine, in which researchers start from a coronavirus protein, take its genome (all the genes in an organism), and grow the protein in larger quantities. The protein is then given as a vaccine along with an adjuvant, a substance that activates the body’s ability to produce antibodies.

Phase 3 of the clinical trials is still ongoing, but at the end of January the company declared that its vaccine had an 89.3% protective effect against covid-19. According to the vaccine coordinator, preliminary data shows that the vaccine is approximately 90 percent effective against the British variant of the virus. At the same time, a study in South Africa, where most were infected by the South African variant, shows about 60 percent protection against mild illnesses and more than 80 percent protection against serious illness and death.

– The adjuvant is a matrix, a kind of network, where there are pieces of virus protein that make it almost as big as a virus particle. The body is tricked into thinking it is a virus, says Richard Bergström.

The coordinator counts that the vaccine can be approved as soon as possible sometime this spring. The deal is for 100 million doses over a twelve-month period, after which the EU has the option to purchase an additional 100 million doses, which are intended to be used to combat new variants of the virus. For Sweden, this is around 2.3 million doses in the first year.

– It is a bit uncertain if the first doses will have time to arrive before the last of June, which is our goal.

Sputnik

The Sputnik V vaccine has been developed by the Russian research institute Gamaleya and is administered in two doses at 21-day intervals. According to Russia, it has a 92 percent protective effect.

Sputnik V is a viral vector vaccine. The characteristic of the Russian vaccine is that the researchers have used two different cold viruses to carry the protein from the nail into the cells. He first gives you a dose with one and then a dose with the other.

The EMA has begun an ongoing review of the vaccine.

– We have started to discuss the contracts. If they apply, they can get approved in May or June at the earliest, says Richard Bergström.

The immunization coordinator counts with Russia’s supply capacity it will initially be quite low.

– It can be around 10 million doses in June.

Richard Bergström thinks the Russian vaccine is exciting, considering that researchers have combined two different cold viruses to bring the protein from the nail into the cell.

– All my experts think it’s interesting. The question mark has been why it had previously been so secret to see the studies. But now the EU has scheduled inspections of clinical trials and factories.

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