Covid vaccines - the 2nd Generation should cover variants . . .

[TorquayFan]

We've heard that Pharma are hoping to be able to tweak a vaccine to cover new variants, in just 100 days, but in reality, that'll be much longer after getting all necessary approvals and this approach is setting us up to forever chase the virus . . . what we need is a vaccine to cover many or all variants of coronavirus as they arise. The CEPI discussed the search for the 'Universal vaccine' in April :-

 

"Instead of using the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which is prone to mutations, as the key target for coronavirus vaccines, researchers are assessing other parts of the virus that are known to be more stable. For example, scientists at the University of Nottingham in the UK are working alongside pharmaceutical company Scancell and Nottingham Trent University to test its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, SN14, which targets both the spike protein as well as the nucleocapsid, or N-protein. By targeting this additional viral structure, which is far less likely to mutate, the vaccine if found safe and effective could work to protect people against COVID-19 irrespective of any mutations to the spike protein and, in theory, could work across other coronaviruses." https://cepi.net/news_cepi/going-universal-the-search-for-an-all-in-one-coronavirus-vaccine/

 

The gist of it is to find a vaccine that addresses the 'nucleocapsid' of the protein - it is not prone to mutation  - Scancell is fundamentally a cancer vaccine Company. ((N.B.There are other credible genuinely 2nd Generation projects around the World)).

 

Scancell's 'Covidity' has been developed from it's 'Immunobody' platform which got amazing results with advanced melanoma Patients. 'Covidity' is now in Phase 1 trials in RSA checking toxicity etc. Initial thoughts re. Omicron, is that Covidity will address it's major spike mutation. We'll see. 

 

This is worth a watch - Scancell's recent update on their progress, including Covidity . . .

 

Prof. Lindy Durrant, Founder, CEO and CSO takes you through Covidity and the other projects. I'm not a Scientist, or a Financial Advisor. It's worth a watch IMO.

 

Let's hope we get a 2nd Generation vaccine soon - we are all weary now of the pandemic. Take care all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TorquayFan]

Just a bit more on 'Covidity' - it's a 'needleless' dosing, (an FDA approved device made by 'Pharmajet of the USA), it addresses the nucleosid and the spikes of the virus, provides long lasting immunity because it generates antibodies AND T-cell immunity, it's DNA based and should be inexpensive.

 

Here's another link, 'Nature' magazine, reviewing a number of 2nd generation Covid vaccine projects around the World - https://www.nature.com/articles/d41587-021-00023-5

 

"Scancell aims to boost CD8⁺ T-cell responses to its DNA vaccine Covidity by including a targeting mechanism that improves cross-presentation of extracellular antigens. The vaccine comprises two plasmids, each of which encodes the S protein receptor-binding domain and the nucleocapsid (N) protein from a particular SARS-CoV-2 strain. APCs that take up and express the plasmids can present the associated epitopes directly, but, if secreted, the N antigen is designed to be taken up preferentially by dendritic cells because of the addition of a modified IgG1 crystallizable fragment (Fc) domain, which recognizes the high-affinity Fcγ receptor they express on their surface. Previous work in cancer indicates that the approach elicits high-avidity CD8⁺ T cells and memory T cells. “Although neutralizing antibodies are quite good, long-term protection requires T cells,” Durrant says."

 

Enjoy.

[codemonkey]

Maybe it's like the same situation with flu vaccines? They only work a little bit, some of the time in the face of ever evolving and new variants.

[TorquayFan]

Just a bit more on 'Covidity' - it's a 'needleless' dosing, (an FDA approved device made by 'Pharmajet of the USA), it addresses the nucleosid and the spikes of the virus, provides long lasting immunity because it generates antibodies AND T-cell immunity, it's DNA based and should be inexpensive.

 

Here's another link, 'Nature' magazine, reviewing a number of 2nd generation Covid vaccine projects around the World - https://www.nature.com/articles/d41587-021-00023-5

 

Scancell and Covidity are listed. Enjoy.

[TorquayFan]

Codemonkey - "Maybe it's like the same situation with flu vaccines? They only work a little bit, some of the time in the face of ever evolving and new variants."

 

Yes but I'd put it differently - they try to 'tailor' flu vaccines to the already known virus's that are expected to be prevalent in the winter approaching - I read that this year's UK flu vaccine targets 4 viruses.

 

An ideal flu or Covid vaccine would be ready for all mutations.

 

[Jeffr2]

Pfizer is working on a combo Covid/flu jab.  And hopefully, it will be a pill.  Seems Moderna is doing the same.

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/moderna-developing-single-dose-combination-vaccine-covid-19-flu-2021-09-09/

Moderna working on combination COVID-19 vaccine booster and flu shot

[TorquayFan]

Every Pharma and BioTech is trying to update, improve and develop better vaccines for Covid.

 

It'd be good to have a Covid vaccine that gives wide coverage against variants and long lasting immunity - first things first. But of course if we can ever get that + flu from a single jab, it would be wonderful, but it's not yet in sight.

 

Here's 6 interesting Covid projects in progress https://www.nature.com/articles/d41587-021-00023-5