Scientists at two universities in Virginia are developing a candidate vaccine against coronavirus that has shown promising results during animal testing.
Scientists at two universities in Virginia are developing a candidate vaccine against coronavirus that has shown promising results during animal testing.
The vaccine was developed by virus experts at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech and, so far, has only been tested on pigs.
“Pigs are very similar to humans in their genetics, physiology and anatomy, perhaps the closest model to humans after non-human primates,” according to an article written by the researchers, which has not yet been reviewed by experts.
The scientists made two vaccines, one for the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and one to protect against porcine coronavirus.
They found that both vaccines produced a “potent” immune response in individuals and “provided significant protections against clinical disease”. Vaccines did not prevent illness, but they did observe “significant protections against serious illnesses,” the results reported.
The candidate vaccine would cost only US $ 1 per dose, U.Va. Health Dr. Steven Zeichner, one of the researchers, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
And while vaccines currently approved are free for most in the United States, they cost between $ 10 and $ 19.50 per dose.
The Virginia / Virginia Tech vaccine would also be “easy to store and transport, even in remote areas of the world, and could be produced in large quantities using existing vaccine factories,” reported Virginia Tech Daily.
The Pfizer vaccine should be stored at ultracold temperatures, -112 to -76 degrees Fahrenheit; Modern between -13 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit; and Johnson & Johnson between 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The new vaccine platform uses a bacterium with a reduced genome to express the antigen of the coronavirus vaccine on its surface. This vaccine platform can be manufactured at low cost in existing facilities around the world, which could meet pandemic demand, ”said Virginia Tech professor XJ Meng to the Virginia Tech Daily.
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