10 Covid-19 Candidate Vaccines In Clinical Evaluation

The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus is a reminder of how global populations and economies are interconnected. The pandemic is integrating the global healthcare force by exposing the obvious realities that no single individual, company, or country can solve the pandemic crisis alone. Researchers are optimistically demonstrating best-in-class resources from the lab to manufacturing to advance the innovations at multiple vaccine candidates. Indeed, the global biopharma manufacturing industry is funding and expanding its capabilities for vaccine production on an ‘’at-risk basis’’ to facilitate the world’s immediate need and demand. Novel paradigms of Next-generation vaccine technology platforms are accelerating the development of “one life-saving vaccine” to nullify the repulsive humanitarian and economic impact. According to the WHO, as of May 30 there are 10 vaccines under clinical evaluation which have already progressed to human trials and 121 candidates are in preclinical evaluation.

- Hithaishi C Bhaskar

As COVID-19 continues to ravage the global population, vaccination is becoming the sole hope for an effective disease control and prevention. Numerous pharmaceutical firms are racing and competing to develop a potential vaccine by deploying all their skills and resources. Companies have substantially accelerated the timeframe of vaccine production in comparison to the typical vaccine development process.

The publication of genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 on January 11, triggered intense global R&D activity towards vaccine development. Fortunately, up until the virus has not mutated to any significant extent maintaining its relatively stable SARS-CoV-2 genome. Currently, there exist roughly 4 to 10 genetic variations between the origin virus from Wuhan and the strains currently circulating. That’s a relatively small number of mutations for having passed through a large number of people. This makes it advantageous towards researchers attempt to create a single version of the COVID-19 vaccine.

This genomic data paved the way for range of novel technology platforms to evaluate vaccine development landscape for COVID-19, including nucleic acid (DNA and RNA), virus-like particle, peptide, viral vector (replicating and nonreplicating), recombinant protein, live attenuated virus and inactivated virus approaches. Vaccines based on viral vectors offer a high level of protein expression and long-term stability, and induce strong immune responses. Of the confirmed active vaccine candidates, 72 per cent are being developed by private/industry developers, with the remaining 28 per cent of projects being led by academic, public sector and other non-profit organizations.