Coronavirus: vaccine race in full swing

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By: Oriane Verdier Follow

The Covid-19 vaccine is an essential element in the fight against the epidemic that will have to wait more than a year. What are the obstacles in this vaccine race?

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To give itself more chances of success, the French pharmaceutical giant has chosen to explore two different avenues: one is based on a method currently used against influenza. The other is a more innovative technique offered by a start-up with which Sanofi has teamed up.

"  If you take the virus : the envelope, these beautiful little red sticks that we see everywhere, it is actually the protein Spike that will be the first to come into contact with the cell,  " explains Jean Lang, head of the vaccine development. Then he explains: "  To prevent this contact, we are going to put antibodies directed against the protein. We inject this purified protein and we will thus induce these antibodies, so that when the virus arrives it will not be able to re-enter the cell. The second method is exactly the same principle, except that instead of injecting the protein directly into the human body, you inject its biological precursor which is the messenger RNA. This messenger RNA will therefore enter the cells, cause the production of proteins internally, instead of being injected externally, and there it will cause the production of antibodies which will, in the same way, neutralize the virus in if the virus re-enters the body. "

► Also listen: Covid-19, would a vaccine be the only solution to stem the pandemic?

Both methods will soon enter the clinical trial phase in humans. In total, the World Health Organization has identified 83 potential vaccines, six of which are already in the clinical trial phase. 

Is there a risk of cutting production to finish first in this race ?

Certain steps will anyway be accelerated since the development of a vaccine generally takes ten years against a year and a half in the case of Covid-19. This is where government agencies come in, trying to speed up the control process.

"  We have contacted all the vaccine producers in order to give them the best possible advice during the manufacture of the vaccine,  " explains Marco Cavaleri, head of the European Medicines Agency's Covid-19 special team. Then to detail: “  The goal is that once ready, their product receives marketing authorization as quickly as possible. Within the supervisory authorities around the world there is a real desire to collaborate. We know that the vaccine can change everything in this pandemic context, but it is also our duty to ensure that these vaccines are sufficiently safe and effective before they are distributed to millions of people,  "he said. .

Do governments also help laboratories financially ? 

Recently Sanofi Pasteur criticized the lack of investment on the part of Europe which could cost the population dearly. Currently the company is associated with the United States Department of Health to manufacture its vaccine, part of which will be produced in the United States. This collaboration is not without consideration, recognizes David Loew, executive vice-president of Sanofi Pasteur.

" You can imagine that the US government is not doing this just for fun. Of course, what can happen is that countries that have industrial sites on their land potentially want to reserve part of the vaccines that are produced on their soil for their population. This is a political reality , ”he says. Then add: “  Afterwards, President Macron had spoken of ensuring that there are also vaccines for humanity somewhere; for whole countries. You have lots, lots and lots of different organizations that have come together, but they still have to agree on how they are going to organize themselves. It is only once we have clarity, who has what authority over the budget, etc., that we will be able to define how we will, for example, structure orders  ”.

To this end, the European Commission organized a fundraiser earlier this week. These 7.4 billion euros have been collected for the development of a vaccine that would be to the world population.

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