COVID-19 Vaccine: Oxford, Moderna Candidates Lead The Race

Of more than 100 COVID-19 vaccines that are currently under research, Moderna’s mRNA-1273 and Oxford University’s adenovirus vaccine (AZD1222) are among the 10 leading candidates that are already in clinical trials.

Of these, the AZD1222 jab — the first to enter Phase-3 studies — is being produced in factories in India, UK, Switzerland and Norway by British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca in partnership with Oxford University.

The company hopes to have millions of doses of the vaccine in the next few months if the trials are successful, Times Now News reported.

Here’s a look at the front runners:

Oxford’s AZD1222 jab: In January, the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group began the development of a recombinant vaccine called AZD1222, formerly known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. The initial phase of testing involved 160 healthy volunteers between 18 and 55 years. The vaccine, which has now progressed to late-stage Phase 2/3 clinical trials, is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that has been genetically changed to stop replicating in humans. The researchers believe that the vaccine will make the body recognise and develop an immune response to the spike protein, thereby stopping the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering human cells and preventing infection.

Moderna’s mRNA vaccine: Moderna’s experimental coronavirus vaccine uses a synthetic lipid nanoparticle to carry mRNA templates, rather than using a weakened SARS-CoV-2 virus to transport the code. The mRNA-1273 vaccine, like most other candidates that are in the work, attempts to train the immune system to recognise the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ spike protein, which the virus uses to bind to and enter host cells. The mRNA-1273 vaccine, which is currently in crucial phase 2 trials, entered into human trials just 66 days after the novel coronavirus was first sequenced.

Among others, the vaccine candidates by BioNTech and Pfizer, Novavax, Sinovac, CanSino Biologics and Inovio Pharmaceuticals are among those leading the race to fight against coronavirus.

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