Despite scientific progress in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, the development of a new Corona virus has not been developed as quickly as the virus is spreading globally, as major drug companies and research and development institutions are still in the initial stages of the development process, which is due to The huge financial cost, the profitability accounts of some companies, the need to conduct multiple experiments and tests before putting it to circulation, as well as the need to build cooperation networks between official institutions and the private sector and NGOs at home, and to enhance cooperation between countries with the aim Development of the vaccine and addressing the spread of the virus.

International efforts

International efforts to find a vaccine for Corona virus accelerated after Chinese academics published the virus's genetic sequence in an open database. Accordingly, some international efforts and models aimed at finding this vaccine can be reviewed, in addition to examining the possibility of developing medicines to relieve the pain of those affected by it, as follows:

1- China

Clinical trials have already begun on a number of drugs that come in the forefront of those used in the treatment of "Ebola", HIV, "SARS" and "Malaria", to test their effectiveness in treating people with "Corona", provided that the results are listed in a rule Chinese data for biomedical studies. This came after a group of researchers tested a number of antivirals in the laboratory to ensure their effectiveness against the virus. China has also called on all those who have recovered from the Corona virus to donate blood, as it may contain antibodies and valuable proteins that can be used to treat patients.

2- The United States

American company Moderna is seeking to recruit 45 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 to launch clinical trials by the end of April. Some biotechnology companies are researching anti-HIV and Ebola drugs. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Maryland, are also looking for ways to encourage the human body to produce antibodies.

CEPI has announced that it will allocate $ 11 million to three programs led by Anofeo Pharmaceuticals and Moderna, in cooperation with the University of Queensland, in the hope of obtaining a production vaccine within 16 weeks. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a license under the "Urgent Emergency" category to adopt innovative technology to counter the spread of the Corona virus.

It should be noted that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and two other large charities have pledged $ 125 million to help develop a treatment for the Corona virus.

In a related context, US Vice President and Virus File Officer Mike Pence said: "We are working to expand tests to find a Corona vaccine." In this context, the United States is discussing with health sectors efforts to combat the spread of the virus, and is developing tests to detect it. Pence stressed that "they will work to provide a treatment to alleviate the pain of the injured by the summer."

3- Israel

The Israeli Research Institute (MIGAL) announced the development of an acute bronchitis virus vaccine to treat corona virus. The vaccine has proven to be effective in clinical trials previously conducted by the Vulcan Institute. The institute is currently exploring potential partners for its production in the next eight weeks, and obtaining the necessary safety approvals for human testing.

4- Germany

The biopharmaceutical company "Curvac AG" and "Alliance for Pandemic Innovation" are working together to develop an anti-virus vaccine. "She expects to develop an anti-virus vaccine (Corona) within months," said German Research Minister Anjaia Karlicchk. "If we want to contain this disease, it is a good idea to have a vaccine in a relatively short time," Reuters news agency quoted the German minister as saying in January 2020.

5- Japan

Japanese scientists are working on intensive and urgent studies to overcome the Corona virus, using supercomputers to analyze some of the available drugs, and use them to treat the infections it causes. Also, the Japanese drug company Takeda Pharmaceutical al Co is developing a new drug derived from the blood plasma of those who recovered from it, due to the ability of the antibodies developed by patients to strengthen the immune system of new patients.

6- Britain

The British (The Native Antigen Company) has announced the start of commercial production of new antigens that can treat the Corona virus. Researchers from the Imperial College in London have announced the start of experiments in mice, hoping to reach their goal by the end of the year. Once the first experimental stage is completed, the efficacy of the vaccine will be tested in humans. A final vaccine is expected to be reached by the end of the year.

7- Australia

The "Doherty Institute" in Melbourne has been working on finding a cure for the virus, through research and study of a live sample. Through it, researchers at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong can begin to understand its properties, a critical step in the global effort to develop a vaccine.

And many international pharmaceutical companies are similarly seeking to find a cure for the Corona virus, by: stimulating the production of proteins, employing technological technologies, in cooperation with Chinese biotechnology companies, and providing the required assistance.

Progress challenges

Despite previous efforts, vaccine development faces many challenges, despite pioneering technological developments and the multiplicity of international endeavors. They are the reasons that can be summarized as follows:

1- Financial restrictions

It is not possible to proceed with an actual vaccine without extensive clinical testing, which requires the manufacture of vaccines and careful monitoring of the results. This could ultimately cost hundreds of millions of dollars. These are funds not owned by the National Institutes of Health, startups, or universities, of course.

And the production of vaccines has always been dependent on the investment of a handful of global pharmaceutical giant such as (Pfizer, Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co), companies that may come to mind about producing a vaccine for Corona virus, due to the high profits expected from it.

But in contrast to this perception, none of the pharmaceutical companies can guarantee their profits, because the new product may mean heavy losses, especially if the demand for it fades.

2- Several tests

According to the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the development of the vaccine passes through a number of stages, the foremost of which is understanding the characteristics of the virus and its behavior in the host (which is not possible on the level of the "Corona virus" due to the difficulty of knowing its pattern of spread between cases and countries), and then testing it. In animals, it is then performed in humans to test immune responses in small numbers of volunteers who are not at risk of disease. According to the World Health Organization, it may be long before a vaccine for the Coruna virus is available.

3- Profit and loss accounts

A number of pharmaceutical companies prefer to invest their resources in economically profitable drugs, such as pain relievers. Some of them have been reluctant to search for a vaccine to treat the Corona virus for a number of reasons, foremost among which is the possibility of lifting the state of emergency before the vaccine is developed.

4- Possibility of developing the virus

The potential for corona virus mutations increases before a treatment is discovered, and the virus's mutation may differ from one place to another. A study prepared by a number of Chinese researchers indicated that the virus developed into two strains, one of which is more fierce.

5- Absence of advance preparations

In times of low disease and epidemic prevalence, there is little motivation to develop vaccines for viral diseases. Research and development is limited to medical research centers with limited financial resources compared to the huge budgets of drug companies. The financial allocations for making vaccines are declining. Therefore, some experts suggested the creation of a global vaccine development fund, to fund research related to “Ebola” and “Corona” other than when they were both spreading.

In this context, some analyzes have argued that the response to the Corona virus was supposed to have started since the spread of SARS over the past decade. The interruption of the SARS vaccine research program has contributed to the spread of the Corona virus to a large extent.

6- Weak production capacity

The productive capabilities of transporting and distributing the vaccine are not available even with the recognition of the possibility of accelerating the process of its development, as it requires a partnership between biotechnology companies, government agencies and universities, in order to produce a large amount of it. A particular institution - no matter its capacity - cannot develop the vaccine alone.

7- Possibility of side effects

It is one of the main reasons why vaccines often get regulatory approval for several years. To fight the swine flu epidemic in 2009, six million people were given the Pandemrix vaccine. It is the vaccine that was later withdrawn after discovering its negative effect on some people's narcolepsy.

It is worth noting that vaccine development is an industry with increased risks. In the 1980s, when pharmaceutical companies began to bear the legal costs of the damage caused by vaccines, many chose to simply leave that industry and work in the pharmaceutical industry.

Restrictions

In spite of the rapid technological developments, scientific progress, and the intensity of global investments in medical technology, there are still many restrictions that slow the emergence of a suitable vaccine, with the growing fear of major companies working in medical products from spending on producing a vaccine to confront the "corona" that appears after the retreat of the virus Globally, and then subject them to major losses.

The possibilities of corona modification increase before a treatment is discovered, and the virus mutation may differ from one place to another, and a study prepared by Chinese researchers indicated that the virus developed into two strains, one of which is more fierce.

- Some analyzes have led to the fact that the response to the Corona virus was supposed to start since the spread of SARS over the past decade. The halting of the SARS vaccine research program has contributed to the spread of the Corona virus to a large extent.