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2020/05/19 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Farmakologia
• Medikuntza

The Moderna company has announced that vaccines being tested to combat covid-19 are safe in the first phase. NIAD is a candidacy promoted by the U.S. Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. mRNA-1273, an RNA vaccine.

Specifically it is the injection of messenger RNA for the production of SARS-CoV-2 virus protein S. This protein is found in the coronavirus spicle, and promotes antibody response. Therefore, most developing vaccines are based, in one way or another, on protein S. Moderna's raw material is protein S MRNA: once the vaccine is received, the cells produce protein S according to MRNA instructions, and the immune system generates antibodies against these proteins. So, if you become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the body already has antibodies prepared to fight it.

Two months after decoding the virus genome, tests of the first phase in humans began. The first phase, which aims to test safety, was attended by 45 volunteers divided into three groups: some have received a dose of 25 micrograms, others 100 and others 250. After two weeks after receiving a second dose, the volunteers saw that they had no side effects and eight of them had antibodies (data from all have not yet been given).

In experiments with the mouse, the efficacy of the generated antibodies was checked. Now they have to see if the same thing happens in humans, in a second phase. There will be 600 volunteers who have explained that they will discard the dose of 250 micrograms, since they believe that it is effective in small doses, and that the fewer doses are used, the more doses will have to incorporate more people.

Reaching the finish line is not easy, but everything on track would make the third phase in July, in thousands of people, and ask for marketing authorization. Thus, they would have prepared the first vaccines by the end of the year or beginning of 2021. In turn, the company Moderna works in the search for financing for development and production. Meanwhile, about a hundred vaccines using similar or other strategies are being tested in various laboratories around the world.