Researchers in Germany have made significant progress in developing a nasal vaccine that can shut down Covid-19 infections before they even begin. The new approach takes advantage of the fact that the Covid-19 virus targets the upper airways, where mucosal immunity is crucial in preventing infection.
The vaccine, which uses a live but weakened form of the coronavirus, has been shown to create "sterilizing immunity" in hamsters by blocking the virus from copying itself in the animals' upper airways. This means that even if the hamsters are infected with the Omicron variant, the vaccine can still neutralize the virus and prevent illness.
The nasal vaccine is unique because it previews the entire coronavirus for the body, not just its spike proteins like current vaccines do. This allows the immune system to make antibodies against a wider range of targets, which could potentially provide longer-lasting protection.
While the results are promising, experts caution that more testing is needed before the vaccine can be widely used. The US has reached a "stalemate" with Covid-19, with hundreds of Americans still dying daily from the infection.
The development of nasal vaccines is an area where significant progress has been made in recent months. Several other nasal vaccines are nearing completion in clinical trials, including one developed by Codagenix that uses a live but weakened version of the virus.
However, experts also warn that respiratory infections can be tough targets for inhaled vaccines, and it's unclear how well these new nasal vaccines will work in humans. Additionally, people with compromised immunity may need to exercise caution when using live vaccines like this one.
The German team is eager to see the results of Codagenix's studies later this year, which could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of nasal vaccines. While there are still many hurdles to clear before these new vaccines can be widely available, they offer a promising approach to preventing Covid-19 infections and could potentially provide longer-lasting protection against the virus.
The vaccine, which uses a live but weakened form of the coronavirus, has been shown to create "sterilizing immunity" in hamsters by blocking the virus from copying itself in the animals' upper airways. This means that even if the hamsters are infected with the Omicron variant, the vaccine can still neutralize the virus and prevent illness.
The nasal vaccine is unique because it previews the entire coronavirus for the body, not just its spike proteins like current vaccines do. This allows the immune system to make antibodies against a wider range of targets, which could potentially provide longer-lasting protection.
While the results are promising, experts caution that more testing is needed before the vaccine can be widely used. The US has reached a "stalemate" with Covid-19, with hundreds of Americans still dying daily from the infection.
The development of nasal vaccines is an area where significant progress has been made in recent months. Several other nasal vaccines are nearing completion in clinical trials, including one developed by Codagenix that uses a live but weakened version of the virus.
However, experts also warn that respiratory infections can be tough targets for inhaled vaccines, and it's unclear how well these new nasal vaccines will work in humans. Additionally, people with compromised immunity may need to exercise caution when using live vaccines like this one.
The German team is eager to see the results of Codagenix's studies later this year, which could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of nasal vaccines. While there are still many hurdles to clear before these new vaccines can be widely available, they offer a promising approach to preventing Covid-19 infections and could potentially provide longer-lasting protection against the virus.