COVID-19: “DNA vaccine” development in Japan: Osaka Univ venture “Anges”
COVID-19:
Venture “Anges”:
“Anges” is a pharmaceutical venture from Osaka University.
The first clinical trial in Japan will start soon, and we aim to put it into practical use next spring.
Start clinical trials:
Jointly developing a DNA vaccine with Osaka University.
A clinical trial (clinical trial) to be administered to the first person in Japan will be started in a scale of about 30 in the near future.
DNA vaccine:
The advantages of DNA vaccines are “vaccine safety” and “vaccine development speed”.
Founder of Anges: Morishita
DNA vaccine:
“only use the genetic information of the virus”, very safe.
Use a protein with the same sequence as the target pathogen.
Inoculated with harmless circular DNA (plasmid).
In the body, it is the mechanism by which cells make antibodies against proteins of pathogens.
Common vaccines:
It is used “after the virus has been attenuated or inactivated“.
There is a “danger that the virus itself will enter“.
DNA vaccines: benefits
Since the DNA vaccine is increased by Escherichia coli, it can be mass-produced in the tank of the brewery.
With a DNA vaccine, the virus itself is not handled.
Escherichia coli can be used as a plasmid for large-scale culture within a few days. It takes 6 to 8 weeks before supply.
General vaccines: disadvantages
Since it is made from fertilized chicken eggs, it cannot be increased immediately.
The chicken egg method (also used for influenza vaccine) takes 5-8 months to be supplied.
It depends on the speed at which the attenuated virus grows in eggs, and is also affected by the lack of eggs.
DNA vaccine: development status
Development started in March 2020, and an increase in antibody titer was confirmed in animal experiments.
Governor Yoshimura of Osaka Prefecture was aiming to start clinical trials from the 30th of this month.
We are planning a large-scale clinical trial for about 400 people this fall.
We are aiming for commercialization in the spring of next year by making it possible to manufacture 200,000 people by the end of the year.
Need for Japanese vaccines:
For example, if a vaccine were developed in the United States, Americans would be the first priority.
Coming into Japan can be time consuming and expensive.
“Developing a vaccine for Japan in Japan” is extremely important.
Japan: List of major vaccine developments
Shionogi: We plan to start clinical trials of protein vaccines within the year. Next year, we aim to launch a recombinant vaccine.
Daiichi Sankyo: With RNA vaccine, we aim to start clinical trials in March next year.
KM Biologics: Inactivated vaccine trials will begin next spring.
ID Pharma: Trials of viral vector vaccines will begin in September.
The world’s major new corona vaccines:
British Oxford AstraZeneca virus vector Phase 3
Chinese Cancino Biologics, etc. Virus Vector Phase 2
US MODERNA RNA Phase 2
China Wuhan Institute for Biological Products, Inactivation, Phases 1 and 2
China Sinobac Biotech Inactivation Phase 1 & 2
Rice Nova Bucks Recombinant Protein Phase 1 & 2
German Biontech, US Pfizer, RNA, Phases 1 and 2
Rice Inovio RNA RNA Phase 1
Japan, Osaka University, Anges, DNA, Phase 1 (starts on 30th)
*Source: World Health Organization (WHO) materials. Phase 3 of clinical trial is final
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https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/304c7293dbf52b7bf0f696af70a871a7def0653a
Anges starts Japan’s 1st COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial on humansMedical startup
Anges Inc
said Tuesday it has started Japan’s first clinical trial on humans of a potential vaccine for the new coronavirus, aiming for government approval by the fall next year for its sale if the vaccine proves to be safe and effective.
The trial at Osaka City University Hospital begins with injecting the DNA vaccine into 30 healthy adults through early July.
It will assess their data over eight weeks to see whether they have side effects from the vaccine or have developed antibodies against the disease.
The participants are grouped into two teams of 15, with one given larger amounts of the vaccine than the other.
Each person receives two intramuscular shots of the vaccine.
If the initial phase of the clinical trial confirms the vaccine’s safety, Anges will expand enrollment to around 400.
If the next stage goes well, it hopes to obtain government approval between the spring and the fall of next year to produce and sell the vaccine.
Anges said the enrolled patients will be observed until July next year.
It said it also plans a separate clinical trial of the vaccine at Osaka University.
The vaccine Anges
has developed will inject a genetically engineered circular DNA into the body that produces “spike proteins,” which are a characteristic of the coronavirus, according to the company.
When such proteins are made, the body’s immune system is stimulated to make antibodies against the virus.
Anges joins some 17 clinical tests of coronavirus vaccine candidates being conducted globally, including by
- U.S. biotechnology company Moderna Inc,
- British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca Plc
- China’s CanSino Biologics Inc,
as the race accelerates.
In Japan, Shionogi & Co
is also developing a vaccine but has yet to start a clinical test on humans.
Japan Today