Ómicron Accelerates Momentum for Second Generation COVID Vaccines

The search for second-generation vaccines against COVID, including vaccines that may offer broader protection against a number of possible new variants of the coronavirus, is intensifying in the face of the omicron threat.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI, for its acronym in English), a group that works to advance vaccine development, hopes to direct more funds soon to researchers focused on future vaccines against the COVID, said Richard Hatchett, its executive director.

CEPI, launched in 2017 with the support, among others, of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, last month delivered the first funds to developers of possible vaccines “variant-proof”Under a US $ 200 million program.

Regardless of whether or not current vaccines remain effective against omicron, it is essential to invest in a number of strategies, including treatments that can target multiple versions of the pathogen in a single vaccine, according to Hatchett, who served as a former White House adviser.

Work is also expanding beyond programs that focus on the distinctive spike protein that the coronavirus uses to invade human cells.

“We do not know what the limits are of how far it can evolve and if it can overcome our vaccines, and not investing in vaccines now to protect ourselves against that possibility would be unwise”, Indian. “It’s great that we have this variety of vaccines, but we should explore through research and development to improve them.”

Scientists must answer a fundamental question about how well COVID vaccines will work against the omicron variant. Pfizer Inc. expects its vaccine to remain effective against the variant, an executive said, and data should be available within two to three weeks.

Meanwhile, the executive director of Moderna Inc., Stephane Bancel, noted that the surprising number of mutations in the omicron variant suggests that new vaccines would be needed to keep infections at bay.

“Although omicron may not turn out to be a great threat, perhaps the next one will be ”, said Hatchett. “We should use this real-world experience to see how far we can go and how quickly we can go.”.

Multivalent influenza vaccines targeting three or four versions of the pathogen have provided protection against a number of variants circulating around the world. GlaxoSmithKline Plc and CureVac They intend to develop a product that addresses several variants in a single COVID vaccine, based on mRNA technology.

CEPI already agreed to finance the Israeli MigVax Ltd. to support the initial development of an oral vaccine, and to the Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Organization of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada to reinforce its work on the so-called protein subunit vaccine. The organization also supports researchers seeking to develop vaccines against different coronaviruses.

Canadian researchers are focusing on developing a vaccine that can be used in low- and middle-income countries that have been relegated to wealthy governments when it comes to access to vaccines. They are beginning mid-phase studies in Africa in unvaccinated people and plan a booster study in Canada early next year, he said. Volker Gerdts, director of the vaccine organization.

“This new variant is another example of the concern that we all have ”, said. “The more people are not vaccinated, the more breeding ground there will be for these new variants to emerge”.