Maybe this time we are. But this is still a hypothesis, even if the scientific community is confident. Italy could make an important contribution in the discovery of the Covid 19 vaccine. As we had premature a few days ago, an experiment is underway involving the Spallanzani hospital in Rome and two Italians. Now comes the confirmation that the Italian vaccine under study could be among the most effective candidates. Let's see what it is.
Italian vaccine, the progress of research
In recent days, the test carried out on the Covid-19 virus at Spallanzani gave a positive result. The times are very tight: within two weeks you should have the results of the studio started in Castel Romano. "And, if all goes well - underlined to Adnkronos Salute Luigi Aurisicchio, founder and administrator of Takis -, we will be able to start human studies after the summer: we want to do them in Naples, with the group of the oncologist Paolo Ascierto" . The Italian company had developed five vaccine candidates. The results of the experimentation on mice had shown strong immunogenicity, with a good antibody response. In addition, the two that give a better answer have been identified "it is not so much the quantity of antibodies - Aurisicchio argues -, but the quality that is able to neutralize the 'key' region of the Spike protein well".
The particularities of the Italian vaccine candidate
According to what emerged from the research, the vaccine candidates developed by Takis contain only a fragment of DNA and are based on the Spike protein. In addition, a technology called electroporation is exploited. In practice, the injection into the muscle is followed by a very short electrical impulse which increases the efficiency of the Vaccine same. The Italian research uses a fragment of viral DNA injected and immediately subjected to electroporation. A technology that can be reproduced over time. And this is the interesting news: it can become a standard for immunization.
The caution of the Italian firm
In the race for the vaccine there are many international companies that have started research. There are about a hundred vaccines ready for experimentation. And human tests are already underway by some. But Italy would not be behind in research. On the contrary. The caution on the Italian vaccine in these cases is a must and Takis is evaluating various factors. “We wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of our candidates with a functional test directly on the virus - says Aurisicchio -. We could only do it at Spallanzani. This allowed us to identify the two most promising. An Austrian company will then produce the vaccine on a large scale to start the human study after the summer ”. The goal then is to access European funding for the development of a vaccine.
Many vaccines with different approaches: a single solution would be needed
Researchers want a one-size-fits-all solution, but we need to understand what the best immune response might be. “In Australia they are developing a vaccine based on the Spike protein - explains Aurisicchio -, which works well as an immune response, but less so on immune memory. In Oxford they use a viral vector, an approach that is generally very promising, but with a mole: with this vaccine after a couple of administrations the body recognizes and blocks the vector, so if Covid-19 is only the first of a series, this type of vaccine may no longer work against a hypothetical Covid-22 ". That of Takis, on the other hand, is, because it is oriented to be repeatable over time if the virus becomes seasonal.
featured image by Aditya Romansa
