[ad_1]
The creators of the vaccine are visiting Zelensky. Photo from the Ministry of Health
Today, October 22, the first press conference of the Ministry of Health on the Ukrainian coronavirus vaccine took place in Kiev. The information that such developments are underway appeared yesterday and surprised many, because before it was not even discussed.
Interestingly, developments on the vaccine were published on the eve of local elections and the president was personally briefed on this issue. After that, the developers also contacted journalists. Zelenskiy raised the issue in today’s election interview, which aired on major television channels.
As a result of yesterday’s meeting with Ze, “Strana” discussed what drug could be discussed and who was involved in it. The candidate for the development and introduction of the vaccine is the American-Ukrainian company Diaprof-Med, led by President Mikhail Favorov, a native of Ukraine but who lives and works in the United States. He is the father of Andrei Favorov, a former top manager of Naftogaz.
During the presentation, Mikhail Favorov spoke about what is the future Ukrainian vaccine and how long it could appear. The head of the Ministry of Health supplemented the data: he said how much it could cost. And he said if he is planning to buy a foreign drug due to the new circumstances.
However, although all the comments about the vaccine are quite vague. And this has already led to the version that all statements on this issue are nothing more than pre-election public relations from the authorities in order to demonstrate to Ukrainians a “breakthrough” in the fight against the coronavirus.
“Strana” understood the situation.
How is a Ukrainian vaccine against coronavirus being developed?
First, the head of the Ministry of Health, Maxim Stepanov, took the floor. He said the drug has been in development for six months (that is, apparently, since mid-April). And it repeated the information already known that the vaccine passed the preclinical phase of trials. This means that it has been tested on animals and is now preparing to move on to human testing.
The president of “Diaprof-med” Mikhail Favorov, a native of Gaivoron, Kirovograd region, spoke in more detail about the drug. According to him, he moved from there to the United States about 60 years ago.
“When the sequence of the virus appeared, a group of Ukrainian scientists working in their country wanted to do a test for the determination of antibodies. We created a protein project, one of the best in the world. It is available not only for classes M and G, but for total antibodies, and helps determine the time of disease. Now it will be introduced as an additional to the PCR in Ukraine “, – began the scientist.
According to the doctor, when his employees were developing an antibody test, they noticed that those who had been ill develop those antibodies, the same protein that scientists are developing. Then Favorov understood: “If it is a vaccine, it will be able to protect. After that, we began to investigate our protein. It is completely original, it belongs to us: Ukraine, Diaprof.”
Mikhail Favorov noticed that his protein folds into a 25-nanometer ball. “What does this mean? That the ball has a 3D effect, and the disease will only interact with the ball. Then we immunized rabbits, mice, rats, whom we immunized. And they all gave a very good immune response. That antibodies are produced and this protein could become a vaccine. “
Based on the results of these early studies, Favorov reported to Stepanov. The scientist told the head of the Ministry of Health that his protein “by definition neutralizes the virus.” Later, doctors discovered that immunization does not alter the structure of cells. From that moment, the Ukrainian American realized that they could start manufacturing the vaccine. “It will take a long time, three phases. But it is already clear that with time we will be able to obtain a drug that protects against covid,” he said.
Mikhail Favorov said that due to the lack of necessary laboratories in Ukraine, the research was carried out in the United States.
“Ukraine not only has a fourth-level laboratory, but even a third. That is why we asked foreign centers. In particular, we sent monoclonal antibodies from mice to Texas. They sent us a three-time replication of the experiment to neutralize the virus. Of course This was done in lab 3+. Because in others, scientists are more likely to get sick. ”
Maxim Stepanov added that it is planned to create such centers, as in Texas, in Ukraine. But for now, apparently, experiments will continue in the United States.
What is the Ukrainian coronavirus vaccine?
Mikhail Favorov said that his vaccine is recombinant, that is, it does not contain the virus.
“This protein, which we made, is never infectious. But since it is made on the basis of the sequence of the virus, you can immunize mice, rabbits, rats, whoever you want, even horses with it. That is, you can get antibodies with it. Then the antibodies are taken and they are already introduced where the virus can grow and if the virus does not grow, then (the original protein – Ed.) was correct, “- said Favorov.
Maxim Stepanov added that the Ukrainian protein and vaccine are unique. However, this is a moot point. In fact, four types of covid vaccines are being created in the world, among which there is also protein:
- with inactivated / weakened viruses;
- single protein;
- with a vector;
- DNA and RNA vaccines.
Who will test the Ukrainian vaccine?
Representatives of the media were interested in knowing on whom the clinical trials would be conducted: if in Ukrainians, if they would be volunteers, how many people would be needed.
Neither Stepanov nor Favorov responded to any of these questions. The head of the Ministry of Health only pointed out: “The investigation procedure is standardized throughout the world. We will comply.”
If we comply, this means that first, in the second clinical phase, trials will be conducted in small groups of volunteers, about 100 people. They will be the first people to get vaccinated after rabbits and hamsters. Since there is a risk, this phase is usually the longest. For example, in Russia, subjects were paid 100,000 rubles (about 1,500 dollars).
Then, in the third phase, the research is carried out in large groups, of 8,000 or more. Volunteers also participate.
Ukrainians are already being screened for Western vaccines – this was recently confirmed by the Ministry of Health. Therefore, it is most likely that this vaccine, if it really exceeds the level of preclinical tests, will also be tested in our country.
Who pays for the vaccine and how much will it cost?
One of the questions that interested journalists: how much will it cost to develop a vaccine and who will pay for it.
“Full state funding. And the president of the country insists on this, we need it. It will cost, if translated into hryvnia, more than 100-150 million hryvnia,” Maxim Stepanov said.
When will the Ukrainian vaccine against covid appear?
Mikhail Favorov answered the question of when to expect the appearance of the Ukrainian vaccine against covid.
“If everything goes absolutely fine, the electricity will never be cut off, but this is nine months. Actually, one year. Because these processes cannot be accelerated. All phases must be carried out,” said the scientist.
By the way, today President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that even if a Ukrainian vaccine appears and a foreign one is bought at the same time, Ukrainians will be vaccinated against covid for several years.
Will Ukraine buy a foreign vaccine?
Maxim Stepanov answered a question from journalists with a question. “Do you know where to buy? There is no vaccine in the world. Everything is in the third phase. Ukraine is negotiating with all leading companies about the purchase as soon as it appears. Now Ukraine has joined the global initiative. Our application indicates that We will be provided in volume 20% of the population, that is, about 8 million doses “.
Media representatives asked a clarifying question: when can we get this amount of vaccine? Stepanov noted: “This is not the forecast we can give. But it will be in 2021.”
Vaccine criticism
The head of the National Medical Chamber, the military epidemiologist Serhiy Kravchenko called the creation of a “Ukrainian vaccine” against the coronavirus a scam, about which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the head of the Health Ministry Stepanov spoke in recent days.
On the air of the talk show “The right to power”, he said that the topic of the “Ukrainian vaccine” was invented by adventurers from the Office of the President for the sake of pre-election public relations.
“I know a couple of adventurers in the Office of the President who organized this theatrical performance in pursuit of political public relations. I understand the group of lobbyists who are present in the Office of the President and lobby for their financial interests. But it is ignorance to discuss this level of laboratory work among students of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Shevchenko. higher level.
If we continue a serious discussion, I will ask Mikhail Favorov (one of the vaccine developers – Ed.) To repeat in English in the United States what he said in the Office of the President, because there is a very strong public law system.
I called my colleagues from the US, we laughed at all this.
After what Mikhail Favorov said, now I will have to contact the first deputy of the department for the protection of the national state, Motkovsky Roman Nikolaevich, on the air after what Mikhail Favorov said. It has a subordinate department for the fight against terrorism and it is they who deal with the problems of bioterrorism. Because this story with the movement of proteins in the laboratory, the placement in some kind of environment with viruses, where did you get a live culture of a live virus? Comment on this insanity above my nervous limit and resistance to stress “, – said Kravchenko.
He added that the company “Diaprof-med”, which is called the basis for the creation of a national vaccine, sells consumables for laboratories since 1996, and then is engaged in ELISA test systems, and Mikhail Favorov’s company is engaged in the sale of express systems in third countries. …
“Formulate as Favorov is a scammer,” said Alexander Dubinsky, a Servant of the People deputy present at the study.
“I agree with you,” Kravchenko said.
What was it?
As you can see, so far nothing concrete can be said about the vaccine. Despite already harsh criticism of this drug, which many experts consider a scam to give the president and his political power a chance to score points before the elections.
If you believe Favorov, then there is only one drug that has passed primary animal testing and now needs to be tested in humans to prove its safety and efficacy.
We will repeat ourselves, in Favorov’s words.
He also says that the vaccine itself, if all goes well, will appear “really in a year.”
That is, if the tests are successful (which is not a fact, of course).
But even now, according to Stepanov, very large funds (by Ukrainian standards) will be allocated for these developments – more than 100 million hryvnias.
In principle, a good resource for a small company “Diaprof-med”, which suddenly, a few days before the elections, decided to announce the success in the development of a vaccine.
Full presentation of the Ukrainian vaccine against covid on October 21:
