By Human trials of a Covid-19 vaccine set to begin in Britain
Scientists at the University of Oxford say a Covid-19 jab they are developing has an 80% chance of success, as human trials of a vaccine are set to begin in Britain.
Their confidence is so great that both University’s Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group clinical teams say they are beginning mass production of the vaccine before the trial is even complete, and aim to have at least a million doses ready for distribution by September.
Deals have been done with three UK manufacturers, and several more abroad, to make the vaccine.
Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, said:
“The Oxford team had exceptional experience of a rapid vaccine response, such as to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014.
“This is an even greater challenge.
“Vaccines are being designed from scratch and progressed at an unprecedented rate.
“The upcoming trial will be critical for assessing the feasibility of vaccination against COVID-19 and could lead to early deployment.”
510 volunteers are expected to take part in the trial. They have been sourced through an urgent appeal, and are being offered up to £625 to take part.
The Oxford vaccine, called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, is made from a harmless chimpanzee virus that has been genetically engineered to carry part of the coronavirus.
The technique has already been shown to generate strong immune responses in other diseases.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has now promised to spread a further £40m of public money between the trial at Oxford, and another at Imperial College London.
Meanwhile, the Imperial College London team has been testing its vaccine on animals since February and clinical trials are expected to start in June.
Mr Hancock said developing a vaccine is an “uncertain science” but that the two teams were making “rapid progress” and would be backed “to the hilt”.
He added:
“At the same time we’ll invest in manufacturing capability so if either of these vaccines safely works then we can make it available for the British people as soon as humanely possible.”
The Oxford University trials will take place in Oxford and Southampton, with three other sites to be added later.
Although more than 70 vaccines are in development around the world but, the UK is one of the few planning human trials.
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