Novartis has returned to recycling the vaccine for the Coronavirus and has made a manufacturing deal with a US team, as the Covid 19 vaccine candidate relies on technology similar to the $ 2.1 million gene therapy technology Zolgensma The most expensive drug in the world for patients with spinal muscular atrophy.
This treatment is used only once in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, which is the main genetic cause of newborn mortality, and affects one of the 11 thousand newborn babies.
According to a Reuters report, the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital, which are behind the early stage project, said that human trials are scheduled for this year, adding that the manufacture of vaccines in the gene therapy unit in Novartis will begin before Monday..
American researchers aim to introduce genetic material that constitutes “mutations” of new coronavirus in the so-called drug-related virus. (AAV) , Before being injected into humans to provoke an immune response against corona.
Zolgensma, Which Novartis developed for fatal spinal muscular dystrophy, works similarly, providing a copy of the missing gene to children whose muscles would not otherwise develop.
Novartis had reduced its vaccine activity in 2015, but company president David Lennon announced that gene therapy experience made it appropriate to join the efforts of Massachusetts, a major departure from the traditional vaccine industry to make a vaccine against the Corona virus.
Lennon confirmed that Novartis will donate technology and supply chain resources to make a vaccine for early trials, while maintaining future production options, if all goes well..
Professor Harvard Medical School professor Luke Vandenberg, who started this vaccine candidate in his Massachusetts eye and ear laboratory, announced that Novartis’ commercial gene therapy experience made her the logical partner, saying “We are on the right track more than ever to reach our goal of developing A vaccine capable of wide distribution. “
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