Simple manufacturing and low cost protein new crown vaccine is expected to catch up

Simple manufacturing and low cost to fill the gap of vaccination

The protein new crown vaccine is expected to come from behind

　　For some people who are eager to get the new crown vaccine, they are worried about some vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA) and viral vector technology because they are prone to acute immune reactions and blood circulation problems.

Although these vaccines are safe for most people, they are related to potentially serious side effects (such as heart inflammation and thrombosis). Therefore, a vaccine made entirely of protein may be their hope.

　　The British "Nature" magazine pointed out in a report on November 8 that the protein-based new crown vaccine of Novavax and other biotech companies in the United States will soon be on the market.

Although these protein-based new crown vaccines are slow in progress, they are simple to manufacture, low in cost, and have fewer side effects. Therefore, they are not only expected to fill the global new crown vaccination gap, but also can further curb the development momentum of the new crown epidemic. "It is expected to open a new era of new crown immunity." .

　　Many advantages

　　"Nature" magazine reported that although protein vaccines have not been widely used to combat the new coronavirus, so far, late-stage clinical trial data looks promising: Compared with other types of new coronavirus vaccines, protein new coronavirus vaccines can have fewer side effects. Provide strong protection under the circumstances.

　　A preprint paper published last month stated that in a study involving 30,000 people completed at the beginning of this year, the Novavac vaccine had a protection rate of more than 90% against the new crown virus. However, at that time, Delta The mutant strain has not yet raged.

The Chengdu-based vaccine manufacturer Clover reported that although its protein vaccine is slightly less effective in protecting against the new coronavirus, the vaccine was developed in people with delta mutant strains.

Studies have shown that the levels of antibodies induced by these two vaccines are comparable to those induced by mRNA vaccines.

　　In addition, these protein vaccines also appear to be safe.

About 50 protein-based new crown vaccines currently undergoing clinical trials around the world have not caused any major side effects.

Many reactions usually caused by mRNA or viral vector vaccines, such as headache, fever, nausea and chills, are not common in protein-based alternatives.

　　Slow progress

　　Although the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine has many advantages, it also has disadvantages.

　　First of all, from the beginning of the new crown epidemic, researchers have predicted that the design of protein-based vaccines will be slower than other vaccine technologies.

　　Many biopharmaceutical companies know how to use genetically modified cells from mammals, insects, or microorganisms to produce purified proteins on a large scale, but this process contains many steps, and each step must be optimized.

Christina Mandel, a vaccine development consultant, said: "This will inevitably lead to slow progress."

　　Ian Spence, CEO of Dynavax Technologies in the United States, also said that the results show that the new crown vaccine made with protein is “not unqualified, but it takes longer.” The company produces adjuvants for the clover vaccine company.

　　In addition, the efficacy of different protein vaccines may vary greatly.

Most protein-based vaccines currently being tested are based on certain versions of the new coronavirus spike protein (which helps the virus enter human cells).

Different vaccine products deploy spike proteins in very different forms: some vaccines use a single protein, others use triplets; some use complete spike proteins, and some use only fragments of spike proteins.

In addition, some proteins float freely, while others are packaged into nanoparticles.

Moreover, the main candidate protein vaccines rely on different adjuvants, each of which stimulates the immune system in its own way, resulting in different kinds of vaccine responses.

　　Thomas Brewer, Global Chief Health Officer of GlaxoSmithKline, said that all of these may translate into different efficacy and safety. "In the end, which vaccine will win, time and the results of the third phase will give us the final answer."

　　Start a new era

　　It is reported that after a delay of several months, Novavax executives said that they are ready to submit the materials required for its protein vaccine supervision to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before the end of the year.

Prior to this, the company had submitted relevant materials to WHO, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

Moreover, on November 1, Indonesia granted the company the emergency use of vaccines for the first time.

　　Coincidentally, Clover and Biological E of India will also submit similar documents to their governments in the coming weeks and months.

　　"Nature" magazine said that if these vaccines are approved, they will alleviate the fear of those who resist existing vaccines and fill the global vaccination gap.

So far, less than 6% of people in low-income countries have received the new crown vaccine.

Based on protein vaccines are easy to manufacture, low cost, and do not need to be frozen or refrigerated, these advantages help to narrow the immunization gap between rich and poor countries.

　　Nick Jackson, head of the project and innovative technology of the Anti-epidemic Innovation Alliance, said: "The world needs these protein-based vaccines to benefit those vulnerable groups."

Both Novavax and Clover have pledged to donate hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine to the new crown pneumonia vaccine implementation plan next year.

　　It is reported that the Anti-epidemic Innovation Alliance has invested more than US$1 billion in the development of protein-based vaccines. There are currently five protein-based new crown vaccines under active research and development. The most eye-catching ones are Clover, Novavax and Korea Biotech. For the products produced by the scientific company, Jackson said: "Protein vaccines will usher in a new era of COVID-19 immunity."

　　Vaccine industry veteran and scientific consultant Ralph Clemens said that at the beginning of the new crown epidemic, vaccines such as mRNA brought speed advantages, but now protein-based vaccines are catching up, and they will provide more Functions, such as filling in the vaccination gap, protecting the entire world from the new coronavirus, etc. "I think they will prevail."

　　Reporter Liu Xia