Skvortsova: New Russian vaccine against coronavirus “Konvasel” will be registered in spring

The new Russian vaccine against coronavirus “Konvasel” by the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) may be registered until the end of March 2022. This was announced on Friday by the head of the agency Veronika Skvortsova in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel.

According to her, monitoring continues over those who began to be vaccinated with the new vaccine in August-September.

Earlier, Skvortsova reported that on July 19, clinical trials of the combined phases I – II of this drug began. She noted that a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 based on the recombinant protein N (nucleocapsid protein) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus “Konvasal” was created at the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums.

Skvortsova called the main mechanisms of action of the Konvasel vaccine the development of a specific cellular immune response, the development of a phenotype of central memory cells, as well as the development of an intracellular virus-neutralizing response. The action of the first generation vaccines is mainly aimed at the production of virus-neutralizing antibodies against S-protein epitopes. “At the same time, the accumulation of data on active mutation of the S-protein, including in the receptor domain, has caused concern of the international expert community in terms of the subsequent efficacy and even safety of these vaccines,” said the head of the FMBA, Interfax reports.

According to her, the experts decided that it was necessary to look for alternative options and create vaccines that induce the activity of different branches of the immune system with potential projective effects.

N protein is the most immunogenic, that is, it causes a strong response of immune cells, both at the cellular and humoral (in the blood) levels in the earliest stages of coronavirus disease, Skvortsova said.

The FMBA vaccine is given in two doses, three weeks apart.