Coronavirus cases are surging every day
COVID-19 cases have topped 17 million mark globally and India is witnessing a record daily spike in the number of new cases. The Health Ministry, in its latest round of briefing, said that they are actively engaging with "multiple" stakeholders and vaccine developers to get a steady supply for the country's population. Globally, many countries have already signed pacts worth billions of dollars to secure doses for the same, as the world over ardently waits for a vaccine to be deployed for use and eradicate the menace of the virus.
What is the status of COVID-19 vaccine trials?
Of the 25 groups in the clinical trial stage, over 3 are in the late and final stage of their trials. India, too, is ramping up work to match efforts, even as experts suggest that more than one vaccine would be needed to combat the surge of the pandemic. Here are some latest updates surrounding the same:
Oxford vaccine trials going well in phase III
AstraZeneca, the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant which has partnered with Oxford University for their novel vaccine has said that trials are going on as expected and they are seeing good developments in phase III, which is the biggest and the most crucial phase of testing.
The vaccine makers have started phase III in Brazil and have gotten necessary data about its efficacy. Studies related to the same are also underway in the UK and South Africa. A statement released said:
“The vaccine development is progressing well. We have had good data so far. We need to show the efficacy in the clinical programme, but so far, so good.”
The positive data from phase III trials come after preliminary phase I/II study suggested that the vaccine, ADZ1222 is "well-tolerated", generated good immunity and had very mild side-effects. Participants involved in the study also saw a spike in the growth of T-cells in the body. Following the good news, AstraZeneca signed pacts with global companies, promising to manufacture upwards of 2 billion doses for the same.
Serum Institute asked to revise protocols, Oxford trials likely to happen pan India
As part of its trials, Oxford University is also outsourcing a part of its trials in India, which will be done by Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune, who will also be manufacturing doses for the company. Serum Institute had submitted a prototype for study, with expectations of trials starting by the first week of August in Mumbai and Pune. The vaccine producer was asked to reframe guidelines and now, as many as 12 research facilities across India are being prepped for the same. It is expected that the start of Oxford trials in India will make way for faster delivery of a vaccine in the country, which is the third-worst affection nation by the pandemic.
Oxford Vaccine to be economically priced in India
To be marketed as 'Covishield' in India, SII has promised to reserve 50% of doses for the country and price the vaccine at an affordable rate, which would cost somewhere around Rs. 1000. The same was echoed by one of the chief investigating officers involved in the Oxford study.
Pfizer-BioNTech enters Phase II/III of clinical trials
American pharma company, Pfizer, which entered the COVID vaccine race with not one but four models of its innovative coronavirus vaccine has also entered late-stage testing of its vaccine, BNT162b2 made out of mRNA (messenger RNA technology), with hopes of launching a vaccine in the market by the end of the year. As per agency reports, the study is expected to include about 120 sites globally and up to 30,000 participants wherein patients will receive two jabs of its experimental vaccine which works to boost immunity. This is the first time an mRNA technology has been made use of to develop a vaccine.
Will they have a vaccine ready by 2020?
Even though the trials are underway, the private company is hopeful of submitting observatory data by October. It has also signed a pact with the US government to supply 100 million doses. There are also reports making rounds which suggest that Japan will be receiving 120 million doses of the same. Deals are being forged with the European Union as well.
Moderna vaccine shows good results on monkeys; 30,000 human volunteers next in line
Moderna Inc., which is one of the leading contenders with its novel mRNA vaccine published reports early this week (July 28) which mentioned that the vaccine jab showed good results in animal trials. The experimental COVID-19 vaccine induced a robust immune response and protected against infection in a study on monkeys and prevented pulmonary disease complications. Affirming positive results from the data, Moderna intends to test its messenger RNA vaccine against a placebo in 30,000 healthy volunteers in the coming weeks.
While the company received a lot of funding as part of the Operation WarpSpeed, this will be the first time Moderna is experimenting with a vaccine for public use. Pre-clinical trials and studies have pegged the vaccine maker to be ahead of others.
Russian vaccine may be launched by August 10
Russian scientists, who took the world by surprise early this month by announcing the successful completion of phase I of their trials have now announced ambitious plans regarding a possible launch of the product. Russian news agencies speculate that the vaccine, which is being developed by researchers based out of Sechenov University will be launched for public use by August 10.
Clinical trials for the same, which were conducted at the Gamalei Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology since June have shown successful results. 18 volunteers were tested in the first phase. While the pool of candidates is small, the results of the same have been immensely promising, as per experts. A statement released earlier said:
“The safety of the vaccine is confirmed. It corresponds to the safety of those vaccines that are currently on the market."
Another Russian vaccine in the works
Apart from this, another vaccine, developed at the Siberian Vektor Institute is also set to start early phase testing of their product in the offing. If the reports of the launch are true, Russia may be the first country to market a ready COVID-19 vaccine.
Covaxin trials show good preliminary results in Rohtak
India's homegrown vaccine, Covaxin, which has been developed by Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune has also started phase I testing, which is happening in centres across India. Newer reports have emerged which say that Covaxin trials, which were started at a medical facility in Rohtak, Haryana have shown good results. An agency report quoted that Rohtak PGIMS, which had commenced the first part of Phase-1 trials of Covaxin on July 17 on 50 volunteers, reported “encouraging” result.
“First part of Phase-1 of vaccine trial (Covaxin) has been completed. 50 people across India were administered the vaccine and the results were encouraging. Six people were administered the vaccine on Saturday under the second part of phase-1,”
More than 3500 applications have been received by authorities for the phase I trial, which will be a randomized blind control trial, wherein selected participants will be dosed twice as per schedule. Experts at the top-level are hoping that Covaxin trials, in phase I and II will take up to a year's time or more.
Johnson and Johnson moves to phase I/II trials
Johnson and Johnson, which is also involved in the making of a novel coronavirus vaccine has proceeded to kickstart phase I/II of its product. Early data received from pre-clinical trials have observed that the vaccine, Ad26 was able to protect monkeys from infection with just a single dose, unlike many vaccines currently in testing. Following the promising observations, Johnson and Johnson started clinical trials in centres across the US and UK.