All tricolor vaccine: two candidates

THERE IS ALSO the way to develop a 100% Italian vaccine. At the moment, there are two homegrown vaccine candidates: Grad-Cov-2 e E-Vax. Therefore, starting with phase 2 of the experimentation, Grad-Cov-2 is already being prepared, single-dose, with intramuscular administration and consisting of an adenoviral vector for the transport of the genetic information of the spike protein (S), the same technology used by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. For the transport of the genetic information of the coronavirus protein S, it uses a gorilla adenovirus.

A collaboration between ReiThera, the Spallanzani Institute of Rome and the Clinical Research Center of Verona

It is created, produced and patented by the Italian biotechnology company ReiThera, based in Castel Romano, and developed in collaboration with the Spallanzani Institute of Rome and the Clinical Research Center of the Integrated University Hospital of Verona. Phase 1 tested three different dosages on 90 healthy volunteers aged 18-55 and 65-85 years, divided into six groups. The results show a
robust immune response in 90% of subjects and no serious adverse events in the first 28 days after vaccination. Much is aimed at this vaccine, which can also be stored in the refrigerator, so much so that the research and development activities have had the economic support of the Government, the National Research Council and the Lazio Region. The state investments made by Invitalia amount to 81 million euros, of which 69.3 to carry out phases 2 and 3 of the clinical study and the remainder to expand the Castel Romano plants.

The trial conceived by Takis and Rottpharm will take place at San Gerardo in Monza, at the Pascale cancer institute in Naples and at the Spallanzani hospital.

There will be more to wait for E-Vax, the second Italian vaccine candidate, a DNA vaccine, which can be stored in the fridge, conceived by the Roman Takis and developed in collaboration with the Monza-based Rottapharm, a biotech that also financed the study. The trial has just started and will take place at the San Gerardo hospital in Monza, at the Pascale National Cancer Institute in Naples and at Spallanzani in Rome.
“Phase 1 will last three months and will involve 4 parallel cohorts of 20 volunteers each, who will be administered four different dosages, the maximum of 0.4 mg in single-dose” explains Marina Cazzaniga.
oncologist at the University of Milan Bicocca and director of the Phase I Research Center of San Gerardo di Monza: “Once the doses and therapeutic scheme have been established to be taken to phase 2, which will take another three months, we count if
everything is fine to be able to start with phase 3 next January ». It will be a handy vaccine that can be stored in the fridge. But, how effective will it be against variants of the virus? «The vaccine will be modifiable
quickly, much more than an RNA platform », explains the scholar. The route of administration involves the use of an electroporator, an instrument produced by an Italian company, Igea di Capri, which through a small shock fragments the injected DNA, accelerating the production of Spike and therefore the body’s reaction.