Already in June, the vaccination of the company Oravax is to be tested in a clinical trial.
A new Corona vaccine, administered in tablet form, could make the fight against the pandemic much easier. The pharmaceutical company Oravax, a joint venture between the Israeli-American company Oramed and the Indian company Premas Biotech, plans to start clinical trials in humans as early as June. This “2nd generation” of Corona vaccines could make it much easier to contain the virus.
Many advantages over injection
The advantages over vaccination via injection are obvious. The distribution and administration of the vaccine is far less complicated. Neither does it require a visit to a vaccination station including an appointment. In addition, the vaccination in tablet form would also not have to be refrigerated, which would significantly simplify the transport and storage of vaccine doses. For people who are afraid of injections, oral administration would naturally also be advantageous.
Even though the animal studies that have already been conducted give reason for hope, experts warn against euphoria. Oravax is not the first company to try a vaccine in tablet form. At the beginning of February, the hopes of the U.S. company Vaxart were dashed when a Phase 1 study did not show the desired effect. Although some immune responses were positive, study participants did not produce significant antibodies, the company said. It plans to conduct further studies to see if different doses produce better results.
AstraZeneca is also conducting research in this direction.
However, the oral intake of vaccine is also occupying the attention of groups that are already on the market with approved vaccines. For example, scientists at Oxford University and AstraZeneca are looking into the possibility of producing tablets, as well as nasal sprays, for example, that would protect against covid disease. Since the nose and throat are usually the places where the virus initially takes hold and multiplies, delivering active ingredients precisely there could ensure that not only the course is weakened, but the infection is prevented in the first place.
But even these considerations are more of a scientific theory at the moment, which could take several months or even years to lead to an effective remedy against COVID-19. The Oravax vaccine, too, must first be tested in humans. And even if all goes well, it will likely be a year or more before a tablet vaccine is actually approved. The now-approved vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer, respectively, had already begun clinical trials in humans in March and May 2020.
— source: futurezone.at/picture: pixabay.com
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