Developed by scientists from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the SpiN-Tec vaccine against covid-19 successfully completed the first phase of clinical studies, with humans. In total, 36 people received the booster dose.
Data on the effects of the SpiN-Tec vaccine are still preliminary and have not been published in any scientific journal. For now, those responsible for the research are reviewing the data that will be sent for analysis by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
However, at this point, the group already states that the 100% national vaccine, which could be used as an option for booster doses, did not present significant safety issues. In other words, in the people tested, no serious adverse effects were identified.
Understand the tests with the 100% national vaccine against covid-19
In the first phase of clinical trials, scientists applied the SpiN-Tec vaccine to 36 people, aged between 18 and 54 years. Before joining the study, all volunteers had already received the primary vaccination schedule (two doses of the CoronaVac or AstraZeneca vaccine) and one or two booster doses (Pfizer or AstraZeneca). No one received the bivalent booster dose.
In addition, both people who had covid-19 and those who did not have the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus were recruited. However, a limiting criterion was the time of infection. This needed to be at least six months old.
Next phase of research
At the moment, the next stages of the research are suspended, while the scientists await Anvisa’s opinion. Despite the analysis time, the expectation is that phase 2 will start in early June. This time, 372 volunteers aged between 18 and 85 years will be recruited. Everything going well, the third and final phase should start between December of this year or January of 2024.
How does the SpiN-Tec vaccine work?
About SpiN-Tec, it is necessary to make some considerations. If the development process is successful, this will be the first 100% national vaccine against covid-19. The other cases involved technology transfer or imports, such as the CoronaVac formula.
Another differential is that the compound seeks to sensitize the immune system against two parts of the coronavirus:
- The Spike (S) protein of the viral membrane, already used in most formulas available on the market;
- The nucleocapsid (N) protein, found inside the COVID-19 virus.
According to the scientists, the presence of the nucleocapsid is one of the great advantages of the potential vaccine. This is because it is a structure that has remained, so far, practically unchanged in relation to the variant strains of the coronavirus. It is even the combination of the two structures that forms the name of the current immunizer SpiN (Spi + N).
Source: Brazil Agency
