Brazil: University of Minas Gerais begins testing COVID -19 vaccine
The Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) has opened registration for those who wish to participate in phases 1 and 2 of clinical trials of its vaccine against COVID -19. The immunizer is expected to be available for inoculation in the population starting in 2025.
The vaccine is being developed at the Center for Vaccine Technology (CT-Vaccines), a biotechnology center installed at the Belo Horizonte Technology Park - BH-Tec - and is the result of a partnership between UFMG and René Rachou Institute, a regional unit of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), a scientific institution linked to the Ministry of Health.
Volunteers for phase 1 must be between 18 and 85 years old, healthy, have not had COVID -19, have received the two initial doses of the CoronaVac vaccine, and a Pfizer booster dose at least nine months ago. Women must not be pregnant or breastfeeding. For phase 2, the fact of having already contracted the disease will not be an impediment, but the other recruitment criteria are maintained.
Initially, the studies involve small groups of healthy adults. 72 volunteers will be selected for phase 1 and 360 for phase 2. If the results are satisfactory, phase 3 will be carried out with 4,000 to 5,000 participants to evaluate its effectiveness.
In pre-clinical tests with animals, the results have been promising. An adequate response has been observed in mice. The inoculation induced 100 percent protection. Tolerability and immunogenicity tests have also been performed in non-human primates. These experiments seek to detect possible side effects and confirm the generation of antibodies.
