The Portuguese biotechnology company Immunethep announced yesterday that non-clinical trials of its vaccine against the Coronavirus have ended and have shown “high safety and efficacy” against a lethal infection by SARS-CoV-2.
In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, the company based in Cantanhede, in the district of Coimbra, states that in the non-clinical trials the k18-hACE2 transgenic mice that were infected with the coronavirus develop a disease similar to humans.
Immunethep's co-founder and scientific director states that, “through these non-clinical trials and the observed 100% survival rate, it was possible to confirm the vaccine's efficacy in lethal SARS-CoV-2 infections”.
The Portuguese biotech company had been conducting pre-clinical trials of its SIlba vaccine (SARS-CoV-2 Inactivated for Lung B and T cell Activation) for several months.
“After infection with a lethal virus inoculum we found that, compared to control mice (which did not survive), the vaccinated animals had a 100% survival rate, observable in the first week after the infection, in addition moreover, they did not demonstrate any adverse effects after vaccination”.
Since its foundation in 2014, Immunethep has been dedicated to the development of immunotherapies, mainly against multi-resistant bacterial infections, currently having just 10 employees.
“The realization of this project in Portugal allows the development of unique skills on a global scale in the development of vaccines and other biological products”, concludes the co-founder and executive director of Immunthep, Bruno Santos. "Rapid support from government entities is essential, for us to continue the clinical trials of the vaccine, in time to contribute to the resolution of the covid-19 pandemic”.
Original article available in Portuguese at http://postal.pt/
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