Inside the Race to Develop a Coronavirus Vaccine

DIOSynVax and Jonathan Heeney

• DIOSynVax is a small company started by Jonathan Heeney, a Canadian pathologist.
• Located in Cambridge University’s Department of Veterinary Medicine.
• Engages in high-level biosafety research, working in containment level 3 labs.

Vaccine Development Platform

• Since 2016, Heeney has been working on a vaccine platform targeting whole families of viruses.
• Received a $2 million grant from the Gates Foundation for a universal flu vaccine.

Current Efforts Against Covid-19

• Heeney’s team pivoted their flu vaccine platform to target Covid-19.
• The importance of vaccines as part of a larger strategy including quarantines, social distancing, and antivirals.

Advances in Genetic Technology

• Traditional vaccines use weakened viruses; new vaccines use genetic code (DNA/RNA) to produce viral fragments in the body.
• Fast development of vaccines due to genetic sequencing and technology advances.
• 43 Covid-19 vaccines are in development globally, with many using DNA/RNA technology.

Heeney's Approach

• Comparison of Covid-19 genetic sequences with other coronaviruses to identify common antigens.
• Synthetic DNA strands are used to create vaccines that instruct cells to produce antigens.
• Trials began in mice within weeks of the genetic sequence release.

Challenges in Vaccine Development

• New types of vaccines (DNA/RNA) have never been licensed for human use.
• Human trials are complex and time-consuming, highlighting the risks and challenges.
• Historical vaccine incidents (e.g., Cutter incident, 1976 swine flu) underscore the need for caution.

Regulatory and Financial Hurdles

• Regulatory trials take time which affects the speed of vaccine rollout.
• Funding is a significant challenge; vaccine development is expensive.
• Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) aims to fund vaccine projects and share financial risk.

Market Forces and Vaccine Distribution

• Pharma companies are crucial but profit-driven, often overlooking less profitable vaccines.
• Discussions on price control and market dynamics in vaccine distribution.
• Concerns about price gouging and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.

Future of Vaccine Development

• Covid-19 is the first Disease X, a hypothetical epidemic that tests our preparedness.
• Importance of establishing better systems for vaccine development to tackle future pandemics.

Personal Insights from Jonathan Heeney

• Heeney self-quarantines to protect his team.
• Emphasizes the dedication of his team working under challenging conditions.
• Optimistic about human capability to create vaccines but recognizes the uncertainties of Covid-19 trials.

Summary

• Vaccine development for Covid-19 is marked by rapid scientific advances but faces significant challenges in trials and production.
• The ongoing race to develop vaccines is filled with scientific innovation, financial constraints, and the complexities of human trials.