US biotechnology company Novavax announced Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 vaccine has triggered a physically powerful immune response, generating more antibodies than they provide in cured patients with tolerable side effects in their early-stage trial.
The company earned $1.6 billion from the U.S. government. Last month to expand and fund the drug as a component of Operation Warp Speed; however, in terms of time, it is other companies besides Moderna and AstraZeneca, that have entered the final stages of their trials.
He reported in a press that phase one of his placebo-controlled trial concerned 131 healthy adults over the age of 18 to 59 and two five- and 25 microgram dose teams.
Side effects included injection site pain, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. These were classified as moderate and none were serious.
After the first dose, all subjects who won the vaccine developed antibodies that block the “advanced protein” of SARS-CoV-2, which it uses to adhere to human cells.
Most have also developed “neutralizing antibodies” that are more resistant and prevent viruses from infecting cells.
After a momentary dose given 28 days later, all participants had the most potent neutralizing antibodies.
Novavax reported that the lower dose was comparable to the higher dose, which is vital for mass production and because reduced doses cause fewer side effects.
Antibodies are anti-infective proteins produced through the immune system.
Another component of the immune reaction is in the form of T cells, types of white blood cells that have the ability to kill inflamed cells and are believed to play a vital role in opposition to COVID-19.
Novavax stated that he had searched for these cells in a subset of participants and that they were present.
The trial was funded through the Coalition for Innovations in Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) and was conducted at two sites in Australia.
Novavax has not yet shared the detailed results, but said he submitted the studies for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and on the medical prepress site medrxiv.org.
The latest phase 3 trial of his vaccine, called NVX-CoV2373, is expected to take place this fall.
The Maryland-based company cultivates synthesized pieces of SARS-CoV-2’s “next-generation protein,” which triggers an immune response, internal insect cells to increase production.
It uses an “adjuvant”, a compound that stimulates the production of neutralizing antibodies.
The corporation says the drug, which is a liquid formulation, can be stored between two degrees Celsius and 8 degrees Celsius at refrigerator temperature.
In the spring, the company said it had demonstrated the effectiveness of a seasonal flu vaccine and had developed the same technology.