Pune: University of Oxford has started clinical trials of Phase 1 in 54 healthy adults to investigate inoculated intranasally with vaccines developed with AstraZeneca (Chadox1 NCOV-19 / AZD1222) after positive findings of research conducted in hamsters and rhesus cauques, says group researchers, including Sarah Gilbert, in a paper published in Science Translation Medicine earlier this week.
AstraZeneca has partnered with the Serum Institute of India, Pune-based vaccines for supply to the Indian government, which is being produced under the brand name Covishield.
India has been highly dependent on Covishield for the vaccination drive.
The intranasal vaccine is given through injection, nasal spray or aerosol delivery directly into the nasal cavity.
Intranasal vaccine is the most commonly used is the influenza vaccine.
Vaccination mode is easier to give than intra-muscular injection at this time.
In two animal studies, intranasal vaccines have been found to reduce viral load and reduce the impact on the lungs.
In contrast to the previous vaccine, the vaccine is tested on hamsters in the initial mutation (D614G) of the spike protein NCOV and found to reduce viral load in nasal swabs.
Dr nanasaheb Thorat, a Marie-Curie fellow at Oxford, said that the intranasal method will be a game-changer with lesser side effects.
He said that since the vaccine, which is already in use, has been tried through different routes of administration, it will require fewer approvals.
“The vaccine intranasal more easily managed and handled.
Even children can easily be given the vaccine, such as in the case of an influenza vaccine.
Recent research shows that the vaccine intra-nasal reduce the load of virus and help prevent the spread of infection in the lungs.
Because the vaccine has not changed , should not come under the rules again, “said Thorat Toi.
Oxford University begin human trials after the researchers, including Gilbert who designed the vaccine, found that viral load in swabs obtained from hamsters virusat intra-pregnant is lower, and no viral RNA or viral infection in the lung tissue after direct challenge.
or after direct contact with an infected hamster.
The research paper was published earlier this month.
The study further stated that intranasal vaccination of rhesus macaques also result in reduced concentration of virus in nasal swabs and viral load reduction in bronchoalveolar lavage and tissue of lower respiratory tract.
The researchers tested the intranasal route of vaccination against strain NCOV containing D614G mutation.
The paper states that the studies showed that the vaccine protects against SARS-CoV-2 containing a mutation D614G.
This possibility is translated into other vaccine platforms as well.
The researchers said the data presented in this paper support the investigation intranasal vaccine delivery Covid-19.
The data presented indicate that specific mucosal immunity, SARS-CoV-2 is possible after intranasal vaccination and resulted in a reduction of virus detection in nasal swabs in hamsters.