A total of one hundred vaccines are being developed by researchers, drug manufacturers, and governments worldwide in an effort to stem the tide of the COVID-19 virus.
Reuters Newswire reports that three hundred million people have been infected by the virus; COVID-19 is responsible for over 215,000 deaths around the globe.
At this point, very few vaccines have made it into the first phase of human trials. That is the phase that tests for efficacy and safety and where most of the vaccines do not measure up.
The FDA has gone into pandemic mode and is making concessions. Therefore, industry leaders anticipate that a vaccine could be available for distribution in a year rather than the standard five-to-seven years it normally takes for development and final approval.
A Powerful Duo
The British company, AstraZeneca has partnered with Oxford University in producing and distributing ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. The vaccine, originally produced to combat the MERS virus, is being produced by Oxford Vaccine and the Jenner Institute.
In its first trial at Oxford, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 induced impressive responses in attacking MERS after only one dose.
The companies announced that they intend to introduce large-scale capacity that will enable the production of millions of doses of the vaccine.
The process is going forward despite the fact that the trials have not yet proven efficacy against COVID-19.
About Cobra Biologics
Cobra Biologics is one of several manufacturers of the vaccine. A company spokesman told Reuters that they should know by the latter part of May if it will be able to produce one million doses of the vaccine each month. This would enable Cobra to build stocks for commercial supply after the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 is approved.
Cobra’s spokesman stated that their current production speed is much faster than it is under normal circumstances. Then he added that it is quite unusual to build up batches for commercial supply before getting to the phase One clinical trial.
However, if the manufacturing run that is scheduled for mid-May is successful, Cobra will be ready to produce one million doses of the vaccine each month.
The process is going forward despite the fact that the trials have not yet proven efficacy against COVID-19.
About ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 is a recombinant (forms new genes) viral vector (carrier). The vaccine utilizes diminished strength of a common-cold virus together with coronavirus proteins. This combination generates a reaction in the patient’s immune system.
The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 study will be a Phase I/II placebo controlled and multi-center clinical trial that should determine the safety and efficacy of the vaccine against COVID-19.
The trial, led by Jenner and Oxford Group, involves 510 healthy subjects between eighteen and fifty-five years of age. The researchers will be comparing the vaccine against a control injection given intramuscularly. The trial started in March of 2020 and will continue through May of 2021.
The partnership anticipates production of one hundred million doses of the vaccine by years end. The supply will be prioritized in the UK.
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has now entered the clinical trial stage with the first group of volunteers having been treated in March 2020.
Notably, there are no vaccines or even treatments available to combat the severe and extremely contagious respiratory illness associated with COVID-19.
In this regard, AstraZeneca will be testing two approved treatments as therapy. Meanwhile, healthcare workers are struggling with various approaches in an effort to treat their patients.
About AstraZeneca PLC
AstraZeneca, a multinational British-Swedish pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company, focuses on oncology, renal & metabolic disorders, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It also is selective in its pursuit of therapies in infection, neuroscience and autoimmunity.
