Just a few days ago, the body The Chinese drug regulation official has approved – in a world first – the widespread use of an inhalable vaccine for the prevention of covid-19. With the acceptance of this formulation, which he leaves Backwards shoulder injection prevention pathology could take a significant step. It is that this type of immunization could not only diminish complications – such as current vaccines – but also to minimize symptoms and, above all, avoid some infections. It would be an essential blow for the pandemic to become endemic and finally group with other common respiratory diseases.
“Following the epidemiological parameters, we are seeing that the end of the pandemic as we understand it is approaching. But we will definitely continue to have cases in the near future, “he said PROFILE doctor Roberto Debbagpresident of the Latin American Society of Infectious Disease. And he added: “This is because we know that the virus takes refuge in animal basins, from where new variants“.
Even if it becomes endemic, this does not mean that there will be no more risks and “that is why we have reasons to continue investing in vaccinesDebbag explained. “For example, it is still a virus with lethality for people with comorbidities. Furthermore, in many regions, such as Africa, only 25% of the population has received a dose. We also know that it can leave complex consequences, grouped as’long covid‘”.
How do we do then avoid reinfections and minimize infections? The answer, according to Debbag, is to continue with epidemiological and genomic surveillance, testing and appeal to new vaccine platforms. Of these there are several options and among them the inhalers or nasal.
The first of many
The first to have the approval of a regulatory body is the Air of confidence, developed by the Chinese laboratory CanSino. There is also a version of Sputnik and a development in India. It’s a race, according to an article in the magazine Nature– who adds one hundred of research groups that aim to generate immunity from the nasal mucosa. And those winds I’m already with clinical trials in people.
“They are effective because they get the delivery of the pharmaceutical components in its own mucosa nasal, which is the entry route for the virus, “Debbag explained. And in that areamounts“An immune response similar to the injectable one but more effective in blocking some cell receptors where the virus is found”pega“. This is why those immunized in this way are infected less and spread even less ”.
Not all experts are optimistic. “If he succeeds, it will be spectacular,” he said PROFILE the doctor Gonzalo Perez MarcHead of Research at the Maternity and Childhood Department of the Argerich Hospital and coordinator of vaccine trials. But I am something skeptical which can be specified as it is not easy to set them. It is that immunity in our body usually works in a systemic way, “leaving the nose free” to better protect the lungs, which is the way current vaccines work and which have been shown to be very effective in protecting us from serious diseases and death. . This is the main function of a vaccine and not so much that of preventing contagion ”.
The costs of new vaccines
According to Mariana DuranCanSino business manager for Latin America “the results of this formula are still aprepress‘even though they have already been submitted to an international medical journal for due peer review. ”And announced that, now that China has approved it, procedures have begun to register this version in countries in the region, where they hope to have it by the end of the year. An important detail is that the inhalable version will cost the same per dose as the injections (around $ 10 per serving).
In short, these new formulas will certainly be ready for next autumn in the southern hemisphere, where the recommendations of the CDC will already be in force, which aims to give an annual “reinforcement” against covid.
The plant vaccine was discontinued
A year ago, news spread of an innovative vaccine against covid-19 that could be produced through the cultivation of some plants in the laboratory. This option, promoted by a Canadian company, was approved earlier this year in that country. And many of the efficacy and safety tests were carried out in Argentina.
“The vaccine we tested locally, in Phase III studiesIS Medicago (a Canadian laboratory). And the results we found were published in a very prestigious medical journal, “he said PROFILE Dr. Gonzalo Pérez Marc, specialist of the Argerich Hospital and coordinator of these investigations in Argentina. “We show it it has a very high efficacy to prevent complications with an efficiency between 70% and 80%. And it also has a excellent safety profile regarding side effects. Plus, it’s a lot easy from to produce“. However, it failed to pass the WHO approval filter because those responsible for financing development include companies in the tobacco industry.
What is left of that essay carried out in Argentina? “We still have to vaccinate about 600 Argentines who were part of the placebo group. We are waiting for the matches to be sent to us to conclude the study correctly ”.
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