UMCG is looking for volunteers to possibly test new corona vaccine from Akston Biosciences

The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is looking for 176 volunteers to test a possible new corona vaccine. The test involves the AKS-452 vaccine from Akston Biosciences of the United States.

The UMCG is looking for 176 healthy volunteers over the age of 18 and under 65 who have not previously undergone a corona infection or received a (candidate) vaccine against corona.

Study participants will be given one or two doses of the candidate vaccine to determine the dose at which you have sufficient antibodies in your body.

Vaccin Akston Biosciences

The Akston Biosciences vaccine is a ‘recombinant subunit vaccine’. This type of vaccine does not use the actual coronavirus (attenuated or live). The vaccine is made up of a portion of the coronavirus, the spike protein, which is fused with a protein fragment of a human antibody. The vaccine is contained in a liquid, or supplement, that enhances the immune response.

The human body knows that the spike protein belongs to the coronavirus and initiates a defense mechanism in which antibodies and T cells are produced. With this technique, a natural reaction against the virus infection is imitated and the own immune system is activated.

The advantage of this type of vaccine, according to the UMCG, is that it does not contain any genetic material from the virus and it is therefore impossible for the virus to multiply in the body.

Extensively tested in animal models

The vaccine has already been extensively tested in animal models for corona infections, in which it has been shown to be effective and safe. The next phase is to investigate the safety, tolerability and response of the immune system to the vaccine in humans.

Participants in the test do not lose the right to receive another corona vaccine at a later date.

More information about the study and the opportunity to participate can be found at the website of the UMCG .

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