The inhaled COVID-19 vaccine is safe and acts against several elements of the virus at the same time, making it effective and inducing immunity in the respiratory system, say Canadian scientists, and this is confirmed by animal studies.
The results of the study confirming these properties of the vaccine were published in the "Cell" magazine. In the article, researchers from McMaster University in Canada, who developed the revolutionary formulation, report "the broad and long-lasting effects of inhaled COVID-19 vaccine." This animal study paves the way for Phase 1 clinical trials.
The new, inhaled vaccine was created on the basis of work on another preparation - a vaccine against tuberculosis conducted by one of the authors of the research, prof. Zhou Xinga.
"In the course of many years of research, we discovered that a vaccine administered into the lungs induces complete immunity of the mucous membranes in the respiratory system. Injectable vaccines lack this, 'explains Prof. Xing.
One of the main benefits of inhaled vaccine is that it works in the lungs and upper respiratory tract, which is where the virus first attacks.
It also has another, very important, feature. "First of all, we wanted to develop a vaccine that would work against all variants," emphasizes another researcher, Prof. Matthew Miller. “Our strategy allows us to stay ahead of the virus. Current vaccines have the limitation that they have to be updated, so in their case it will always be a virus chase, "he adds.
New vaccine provokes a response against three different parts of SARS-CoV-2.
Two of them change very little from one variant to another, unlike the spike protein that is usually the target of current vaccines.
The preparation is based on adenoviruses that carry active particles into the lungs without causing disease. In addition, its action may be broader than just protection against COVID-19.
"Vaccination may also provide protection against future pandemics. This is important because, as we saw in the current pandemic, or in 2009 with swine flu, even with the swift development of vaccination against the pandemic virus, it is too late. Millions have diedpeople, despite the fact that we developed a vaccine in record time "- points out prof. Miller.
“In our report, we inform you that in addition to neutralizing antibodies and T cells, a vaccine administered into the lungs stimulates a unique form of immunity known as trained innate immunity. It can provide broad protection against many lung pathogens in addition to SARS-CoV-2, 'explains Prof. Xing.
This is not the end of the vaccine's advantages. In addition to the fact that it does not require needles and is painless, inhalation vaccination is, according to researchers, also so effective that the maximum protection can be obtained with a fraction, maybe even one percent of a typical dose.
"The current pandemic has shown us that access to immunization can be a huge challenge. Showing that this alternative method can significantly improve the stock situation could mean a colossal change that is particularly important in the face of a pandemic, 'emphasizes one of the scientists, Prof. Brian Lichty.