The study of oral vaccine in tablet form began during the development of a newly created company called Oravax. It is also listed on the US Stock Exchange behind Oravax uramid , which is also developing an oral insulin capsule, is already undergoing clinical trials in the United States for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Another Oravax member is India Primas biotechnology, which has long been involved in the development of recombinant protein vaccines. It stands to reason, then, that the two companies must have combined their knowledge and joined together on a new venture that is more important than ever.
The obvious advantage of oral vaccines is that they can be used at home without the need for vaccination sites or medical staff.
The vaccine in question requires little refrigeration, that is, no freezing, and can be stored at room temperature.
Unlike most vaccines currently available, Oravax attacks not just one but three structural proteins of the coronavirus, reducing the chances of emerging variants evading the immunity they elicit.
As is well known, most vaccines currently in use elicit an immune response exclusively against the viral spike protein. The only exception to this is the Sinopharm vaccine, which contains all the proteins on the surface of the virus, which makes the immune response more complex.
According to the manufacturer’s press conference, animal trials have shown promising results, and results from clinical trials in humans are expected in the second quarter.
Oral vaccines such as those against rotavirus, adenovirus and cholera, as well as Sabin drops against epidemic polio, still exist. The vaccine in question, developed by Oravax, is made using the VLP (virus-like particles) method, which is also an example of the vaccines currently in use. Examples include Engerix and Recombivax HB for hepatitis B virus, Cervarix for HPV and Gardasil for 120 countries Well-established vaccine manufacturers such as GlaxoSmithKline and Merck Recent vaccination plays an important role in cervical cancer Also in the fight against
The author specializes in allergy and clinical immunology.
(Cover Photo: People wearing a mask on January 31, 2020 in China. Photo: Linh Pham/Getty Images)
