A human study for the second-generation COVID vaccine developed by the University of Queensland (UQ) has begun, more than two years after the previous technology was dropped due to patients’ false HIV-positive tests.
To compare the molecular clamp technology’s efficacy as a COVID vaccination to the licensed Novavax shot, UQ researchers need 70 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 50.
Even though the trial will evaluate the technology, known as Clamp2, as a COVID vaccine, the researchers say if it is successful, it is more likely to be employed to protect patients during upcoming pandemics and in vaccinations for current viruses, such respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Scientists are aiming to harness the technology to develop vaccinations for “a range of viruses,” according to project head Keith Chappell.
Our main goal is not to release yet another COVID vaccination.
“The available vaccines are really effective and are keeping a lot of people out of hospitals.
“This won’t be the last pandemic the world experiences, so the next time we want to make sure dosages are available as soon as possible, are safe, and can protect Australians and people all over the world.
The next time, we can ramp up very fast and get vaccines to the people who need them in an emergency if we can demonstrate that this technology is both safe and effective.
An engineered form of the spike protein found on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was held together by two pieces of a protein found in HIV that functioned as a chemical bulldog clip.
That caused the immune system to recognize and fight the spike protein, resulting in the production of defense-enhancing antibodies.