Vaccine surpassed pre-clinical tests and first results showed a strong immune response and a good safety profile
Vaccine against the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 created, developed and patented in Italy will be tested on humans, starting this Monday (24).
Thousands of Italians responded to the call for volunteers, including more than 5 in the last week alone, but only the 90 selected will be subjected to tests that will be carried out by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani.
The vaccine has already surpassed pre-clinical tests carried out both 'in vitro' and in animals and the first results showed a strong immune response and a good safety profile, according to authorities in the region of Lazio, that has Rome as capital, which financed the vaccine studies with 5 million euros.
The first five volunteers who will receive the vaccine are men, between 31 and 46 years old, who have passed preliminary medical examinations and proven their suitability.
If they do not present significant adverse side effects, the vaccine will then be administered in a higher dose to a second group of volunteers between September 07th and 09th.
The 90 chosen volunteers are divided into two age groups, one between 18 and 55 years old and the other between 65 and 85 years old, each of which is divided into three subgroups of 15 people, to which a different dose of the vaccine.
During “phase 1”, each volunteer will receive a dose of the vaccine and will subsequently undergo seven controls, the first two just a few days after the vaccine and the last after 24 weeks.
If the “phase 1” results are positive, the “phase 2” could advance during the autumn, with a greater number of volunteers, both in Italy and in other countries.
With information news agencies
