Italy to test coronavirus vaccine on humans as early as summer. The product is being developed by an international consortium comprising Italian, German and Belgian companies.
A consortium of three European biotechnology companies and pharmaceuticals plans to begin human testing of a vaccine candidate against the new coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2) next European summer, which begins at the end of June, in Italy.
The group is formed by Reithera, based in the Rome metropolitan area, Leukocare, from Munich (Germany), and Univercells, from Charleroi (Belgium). "Currently, Reithera is developing preparatory activities to begin phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in Italy during the summer of 2020," says a note from the consortium.
“Large-scale production will begin soon after,” the statement added. The possible vaccine is being developed from the “spike” protein, which Sars-CoV-2 uses to attack human cells, inserted into a chimpanzee adenovirus.
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The inactive virus is used to carry the genetic sequence corresponding to the Sars-CoV-2 “spike” protein. The three companies in the consortium announced the project this Thursday (23), bringing together the experience of Reithera in adenovirus-based vaccines, that of Leukocare in viral vector vaccines and that of Univercells in large-scale manufacturing.
The consortium also intends to develop a formula that guarantees the stabilization of the vaccine for long periods and facilitates its distribution.
At the same time, Germany and the United Kingdom have also authorized human testing of two vaccine candidates against the new coronavirus, which has already infected more than 2,6 million people and left 184 dead worldwide.
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