"Vector" intends to begin clinical trials of vaccines against coronavirus in May

At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin the head of the “Vector” noted that in the US they switched to clinical trials with humans after short experiments were carried out on mice, believing that this is permissible in a pandemic period. If the Ministry of Health allows, then in Russia they can start clinical trials too.

“Using international experience, with the conditions for obtaining permission from the Ministry of Health, we are ready to switch to the first phase of clinical trials with these vaccines in May this year, as well as simultaneously conduct a full cycle of preclinical trials,” said Rinat Maksyutov.

He also noted that volunteer groups had already been formed. The number of people willing to participate in clinical trials of vaccines exceeds 300 people. This is more than enough to conduct such a study.

According to the scientist, if you go through the stages sequentially, then preclinical trials can begin until June 22. After that, with three vaccines, it will be possible to go to the first phase of the clinical study on June 29th.

Recall that earlier Rinat Maksyutov already said that vaccine trials could begin in June. To date, mice and ferrets have already been immunized in Vektor, and monkeys will be tested by the end of April, Kommersant wrote .

- We expect to complete animal studies in a laboratory format at the end of April of the current year and after that go to the stage of preclinical studies. And the next stage of clinical trials - already directly in humans, in June trials in humans will begin, ”said Maksyutov.

The head of Rospotrebnador Anna Popova noted that despite the fact that the test on people will be "difficult", it can not cause harm. At the same time, Popova argued that it is permissible to immediately test the vaccine on volunteers, however, in Russia they went according to the classical test scheme.

Note that Ancha Baranova, professor of the GMU School of Systems Biology, the first to publish a book on coronavirus, said that the vaccine should be expected only by 2021. According to her, revaccination may also be necessary.

Meanwhile, Russia is considering the possibility of attracting already ill coronavirus as donors, whose serum can help patients with severe complications recover. In the development involved four groups of biologists from the Institute of Molecular Biology. Engelhardt RAS, NMIC Hematology Menzdrav Russia, Genetico and the Institute of Bioengineering RAS.

In the meantime, the vaccine has not been invented, people continue to "try on" existing medicines - with varying degrees of effectiveness, medicines for malaria, cancer, HIV and Ebola are used. At the same time, experts insist that one should not engage in self-medication in case of coronavirus disease, as well as drink antiviral drugs “just in case”.

Over the past 24 hours, 1,154 new cases of coronavirus infection in 43 regions have been registered in Russia. During the past day, 88 people recovered, 11 patients died. In total, 7497 cases of coronavirus in 81 regions are registered in the country.