Significance of COVID-19 Vaccine Research Not Backed by Big Pharma
As the race for a vaccine against COVID-19 is on, the latest WHO draft landscape has reported that 26 vaccine candidates are in various stages of clinical trials. Out of these 26, six vaccine candidates are in the third stage of clinical trials with China having the highest number (3 out of 6). Most of these candidate vaccines are backed by big pharma companies such as Astra Zeneca (Oxford), Pfizer, BioNtech, Fosun Pharma, Sinovac and Moderna. The exception is Sinopharm, which is a state owned pharmaceutical company of China, though it also falls in the big pharma category.
The international media hype is focussed mostly on Oxford candidate backed by pharma giant Astra Geneca and US’s Moderna. But, there are several efforts worldwide that are neither backed by pharma giants, nor are they being conducted in the so called premier institutes of the world. This includes Turkey, Greece, Brazil along with other Latin American countries, to name a few. It’s worth noting that vaccine development involves lots of risk and financial support. Relatively weaker countries making efforts on their own without backing of big companies is praiseworthy and should be supported. If a vaccine developed in a weaker country becomes a success, then it would help that country to avoid relying upon importing from the well-to-do countries or their charity.
But, among the 139 candidate vaccines in the pre-clinical phase, meaning, not yet tried on human subjects, there are many independent efforts.
Country | Developer | Type of Candidate Vaccine |
---|---|---|
Turkey | Ege University Selcuk University Erciyes University Ankara University Erciyes University Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center Bogazici University Selcuk University Bezmialem Vakif University Middle East Technical University |
DNA Vaccine Inactivated virus Inactivated virus Adenovirus based Adeno5-based Recombinant S protein Peptide + novel adjuvant mRNA VLP |
Egypt | National Research Centre National Research Centre National Research Centre National Research Centre |
DNA plasmid vaccine Inactivated whole Virus Influenza A H1N1 Vector Protein Subunit S,N,M&S1 protein |
Thailand | Chula Vaccine Research Centre Bionet Asia National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) /GPO, Thailand Chulalongkorn University/GPO Mahidol University/ The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO)/Siriraj Hospital |
DNA with electroporation DNA Vaccine Inactivated Flu-based SARS-CoV2 vaccine + Adjuvant RBD protein fused with Fc of IgG + Adj. VLP + Adjuvant |
Kazakhstan | Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems |
Codon deoptimized live attenuated vaccines Protein Subunit |
Spain | IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic, Spain IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology |
Non-Replicating viral vector mRNA MVA expressing structural protein Replicating Defective SARS-CoV-2 derived RNAs |
India | Bharat Biotech/Thomas Jefferson University Biological E Ltd. Aurobindo Pharma Gennova Biopharmaceuticals |
Recombinant deactivated rabies virus containing S1 Adjuvanted protein subunit VSV-S Self-Amplifying RNA |
Nigeria | Helix Biogen Consult/ Trinity Immonoefficient Laboratory. | S-Protein (Subunit) + Adjuvant, E coli based Expression |
Argentina | University of San Martin and CONICET | Protein Subunit |
Denmark | AdaptVac ExpreS2ion AJ Vaccines |
Capsid-like Particle Drosophila S2 insect cell expression system VLPs S protein |
Hong Kong | University of Hong Kong | Influenza vector expressing RBD |
Brazil | Fundação Oswaldo Cruz and Instituto Buntantan University of Sao Paulo |
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz and Instituto Buntantan VLPs peptides/whole virus |
Netherlands | Wageningen Bioveterinary Research/Utrecht Univ. | Newcastle disease virus vector (NDV-SARS- CoV-2/Spike) |
All the data here are taken from the WHO draft landscape of July 31.
These are some of the vaccine research being carried out independently by some economically weaker countries. However, these countries require international help for accelerating their efforts, which might help end the monopoly of big pharma companies and also rich countries.
If the motto is to really win over the pandemic, the world needs a vaccine that is accessible by all, rather than hoarding by few and profiteering by the pharma giants.
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