Preclinical studies of a vaccine against coronavirus in the form of a spray developed by scientists of the Smorodintsev Influenza Research Institute of the Ministry of Health of Russia have shown the effectiveness of the drug. Tests with the participation of volunteers can begin in late 2021 or early 2022. This was announced on Wednesday, September 22, during a press conference by Dmitry Lioznov, the director of the Research Institute.
“Preclinical tests were carried out both on cell culture and on animal models. The vaccine has demonstrated its effectiveness and safety. We are preparing documents to obtain an approval for a clinical trial. We hope that with a favorable process, we will start clinical trials later this year or the beginning of next year,” Lioznov is quoted by TASS.
Earlier, it was reported that the scientists of the institute are developing a vaccine against COVID-19 based on the flu virus. The institution explained that a weakened version of this virus is used as a vector for delivering proteins of coronavirus infection. The resulting immune response should provide protection against the disease. As the institute representatives added, the conservative part of the influenza virus will bring the vaccine into cells.
“It has an advantage compared to others. This is a vaccine is for intranasal use, so its administration does not require any injections. In addition to general immunity, it also forms defense against the pathogen at the entrance gate, that is, in the nasopharynx and oropharynx. Antigen injections will result in T-cell and humoral immunity formation,” the director of the Research Institute stressed.
According to him, since the vaccine is based on the influenza virus, it will presumably provide protection against both coronavirus and influenza. This has not been confirmed yet, so the drug is considered “promising for protection against two pathogens at once.”
