University of Queensland coronavirus vaccine shows promising results
A University of Queensland vaccine against coronavirus has produced more antibodies to the virus than has been found in the blood of recovered patients.
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Early tests of a potential COVID-19 vaccine have shown promising results against the deadly virus, Queensland researchers say.
The University of Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine has shown in preclinical tests it can raise high levels of antibodies that can neutralise the virus.
The university’s project co-leader Professor Paul Young said the results were an excellent indication the vaccine worked as expected.
“This is what we were hoping for, and it’s a great relief for the team given the tremendous faith placed in our technology by CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation), federal and Queensland governments and our philanthropic partners,” Prof Young said in a statement today.
“We were particularly pleased that the strength of the antibody response was even better than those observed in samples from COVID-19 recovered patients.”
Professor Kanta Subbarao of the Doherty Institute, which is working with UQ, tested the vaccine samples in the laboratory.
“This is a very important finding because similar immune responses with SARS vaccines in animal models were shown to lead to protection from infection,” Prof Subbarao said.
Dutch company Viroclinics Xplore is also collaborating on the vaccine tests.
The final results from preclinical tests are hoped to be in by early June before clinical trials can start.
AUSSIE VACCINE TRIAL TO BEGIN
A Perth clinical research company wants healthy adults and elderly volunteers to participate in one of the world’s first human coronavirus vaccine trials.
The protein-based COVID-19 S-Trimer potential vaccine aims to help the body produce antibodies to fight the virus.
Volunteers will participate in the trial in the next two months and if successful, a larger phase involving thousands of people globally will be conducted.
The trial will be run by Perth’s Linear Clinical Research and was developed by China-based Clover Biopharmaceuticals.
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Linear Clinical Research chief Jayden Rogers said the vaccine showed immense potential.
With more than 60 possible vaccines being developed globally, he said it was significant because it was one of the first to make it to human trials.
“This is one of the most prominent trials globally and involves some of the most renowned vaccines companies,” Mr Rogers said.
The vaccine was promising because of Clover Biopharmaceuticals’ technology platform, he said.
It has previously been used in a number of clinical studies and to develop vaccines for other RNA-based viruses like influenza, RSV and HIV.
“The fight against COVID-19 requires a global effort bringing together the best science and innovation,” Mr Rogers said.
“We are fortunate to be one of the few countries in the world to still be offering functional clinical trial facilities because we do not have large volumes of COVID-19 cases as compared to other parts of the world.”
Originally published as University of Queensland coronavirus vaccine shows promising results