THDNewsDesk, London : A new COVID-19 vaccine emanated from The University of Oxford has begun its experimentation. The human trials have started in Australia in association with the Serum Institute of India. It is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.
The shot was formulated by SpyBiotech, a U.K. Company based out of Oxford in 2017. The researchers who spun out the company were Adrian Hill and Sarah Gilbert at University’s Jenner Institute. In partnership with AstraZeneca Plc, the institute could develop the most precocious COVID-19 shots. The shots are currently in a final-stage trial.
Sumi Biswas, the company’s Chief Executive Officer is also a professor at Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine. She specified that an experimental shot by SpyBiotech has begun human trials in Phase1/2. The trials are run in Australia by Serum Institute. It is one of the numerous vaccines for human trials around the world. The company will eventually enrol several volunteers for the human trials.
The vaccine employs a virus-like particle from Hepatitis B antigen as a carrier. The company uses its proprietary SpyCatcher/SpyTag “superglue” technology. It is employed to fasten coronavirus spike protein to promote an immune response. The virus-like particle has been used in many more licensed vaccines against Hepatitis B. Biswas added that SpyBiotech’s technology allows these antigens to bond with these virus-like particles. They will improve stability and efficaciousness in the vaccines.
She added, “It is a bacterial superglue technology which allows you to attach antigens onto different vaccine delivery platforms.” She added, “COVID has definitely accelerated the development of our company’s platform.”
Biswas was felicitated with her Ph.D., from Oxford University. She presently works at Jenner Institute to develop a malaria vaccine. She remains a Jenner researcher.
SpyBiotech obtained a sole licensing contract with Serum Institute for the vaccine. Institute had earlier signed a deal with AstraZeneca to produce one billion doses of the Oxford shot developed by Gilbert. SpyBiotech has already raised fifteen million pounds in funding from investors involving Google Ventures and Oxford Sciences Innovation.
