Universities of Hong Kong, Macau and PRC jointly research vaccines with initial results, will conduct human clinical trials

Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan

                                  / KUCINTA SETIA

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Macau University of Science and Technology and many mainland universities have jointly developed SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and made breakthroughs. Research groups have found that the recombinant RBD protein vaccine can be injected into mice, rabbits and monkeys. Antibodies are produced within 7 or 14 days after single injection to prevent viral infection. Liu Yaonan, visiting professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at PolyU, said that human clinical trials will be conducted in the next phase, and it is not yet possible to assess when the vaccine will be officially launched on the market. PolyU stated that it has notified the Innovation and Technology Bureau of the research results.

Liu Yaonan said that there are currently more than 200 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine research projects in the world. Among them, the vaccines developed by the PolyU and Macau University of Science and Technology teams are ready to enter the clinical stage over time. There are still technical problems to overcome but he said that he has mastered the production process and will sign contracts with Taiwan and American pharmaceutical companies in the short term to prepare for mass production of vaccines. Once the vaccine is successfully developed, 8 million doses will be reserved for Hong Kong and Macau residents.

Liu Yaonan said that the research team found that a recombinant vaccine targeting the receptor binding region of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 can cause mice and other animals to produce antibodies. The situation is like "(virus) uses chewing gum before entering the house. Latch the key (virus) and wait for the channel (virus) to enter the house," but the team members still need to continue to study technical issues such as increasing the number of antibodies and the effective time of injection. When asked about production costs, Liu Yaonan only said that mass production can reduce costs, and that "the price is definitely advantageous."

The research titled "A vaccine targeting the RBD of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 induces protective immunity" has recently been published in the internationally renowned academic journal "Nature".

Source : Ming Pao

Ref: https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20200803/s00001/1596439517780/%e6%96%b0%e5%86%a0%e8%82%ba%e7%82%8e-%e7%90%86%e5%a4%a7-%e6%be%b3%e9%96%80%e7%a7%91%e5%a4%a7-%e5%85%a7%e5%9c%b0%e9%99%a2%e6%a0%a1%e5%90%88%e7%a0%94%e7%96%ab%e8%8b%97%e5%88%9d%e7%8f%be%e6%88%90%e6%9e%9c-%e5%b0%87%e4%bd%9c%e4%ba%ba%e9%ab%94%e8%87%a8%e7%89%80%e8%a9%a6%e9%a9%97