"Proceeding with these rhythms, it will be possible to start the first human trials from July"Thus the health director of Spallanzani of Rome, Francesco Vaia, on the vaccine against Covid 19 which will be tested in the Institute for infectious diseases in Rome." If the first tests give a positive result, they will lead to administration in 2021 of the vaccine on a large number of people at risk and, I hope, to demonstrate its effectiveness "added Vaia." Unlike traditional vaccines, genetic vaccines do not use an inactive microorganism or part of it but the gene that codes for 'antigen of the microorganism that you want to neutralize "explains Vaia. In this case - as far as we have learned - the gene encoding the spike protein that allows the virus to enter the cells will be used. This gene, once it has entered the cells of the body, induces the production of the protein which in turn stimulates the immune response against the coronavirus.
Spallanzani is setting up an area of the hospital that will be specifically dedicated to the administration of the vaccine to healthy volunteers, in compliance with all safety guarantees ", explains the medical director Francesco Vaia. According to what has been learned, it is a genetic vaccine based on a viral vector that was developed by ReiThera, a biotechnology company based in Castel Romano, and scientific coordination was entrusted to the Spallanzani institute which will act in agreement with the CNR.
"Unlike traditional vaccines, genetic vaccines do not use an inactive microorganism or part of it but the gene that codes for the antigen of the microorganism that you want to neutralize" explains Vaia. In this case - as far as we have learned - the gene encoding the spike protein that allows the virus to enter the cells will be used. This gene, once it enters the body's cells, induces the production of the protein which in turn stimulates the immune response against the coronavirus. For the testing of this vaccine, the Lazio Region took the field in agreement with the ministry of University and Research. In recent weeks, the Region announced that it would allocate € 5 million to Spallanzani to help research the Covid-19 vaccine.
