Robust domestic vaccine studies continue for new variants

Turkey’s first vaccine institute At Hacettepe University Vaccine Institute The development of a powerful vaccine for new variants of Covid-19 continues. Easily adaptable to new variants synthetic peptidePreclinical studies of the vaccine developed by the method are nearing completion.

The vaccine, which has been developed to be strong for the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron, will offer more immunity than the currently used vaccines. Existing vaccines were prepared according to the version of Covid-19 that emerged in Wuhan. BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are one of the genera that mutate in a form that can easily be transmitted to vaccinated individuals. Especially in the middle of the summer months, there was an increase in the incidents due to BA.4 and BA.5. With the increase in living indoors in winter, an increase in incidents is expected across Europe.

Resistant to new variants

Stating that the vaccine progressing over the Wuhan variant has received positive results from animal experiments, the activity evaluation against BA.4 and BA.5 variants has started, Vaccine Institute Vaccine Technology Department Lecturer Assoc. Dr. Semra Aydin said:

“Now, we are transforming the same study to include other variants. In other words, we evaluate the activity of the vaccine against Delta, Omicron’s BA.4, BA.5 variants. The formulations we have developed for these variants are currently being studied on experimental animals, preclinical studies are in the phase of completion. “We hope to get to the clinical stage soon. The results we have achieved so far are very positive, we have achieved 3 times the antibody formation in our formulations compared to the control set.”

Is it too late?

Assoc. Dr. Semra Aydın, “It’s late” for domestic vaccine studies, “Is it lagging behind?” Pointing out that perceptions such as

Pointing out that all of the Kovid-19 vaccines on the market are produced compared to the first Wuhan variant and that the effectiveness of these vaccines has decreased to some extent due to the emergence of many variants, Aydın said:

“These studies also enabled the resumption of vaccine production in Turkey. A vaccine production culture and related infrastructures are being formed in our country. In addition, our vaccine studies will be very useful in the effort with ongoing infections. There has been an important awareness about vaccine production in our country. Then we hope to enter a period in which all childhood vaccines are produced in our country and our young people are actively involved in vaccine R&D and production studies.”