An Adelaide based company, Vaxine Pty Ltd has successfully developed a COVID vaccine, COVAX-19 that holds the ability to completely prevent the covid-19 virus transmission in non-immune individuals. No other vaccine in the world has been yet found to show such promising results.

COVAX-19 vaccine is a subunit vaccine based on synthetic protein produced using harmless insect cells. Vaxine’s major product is their polysaccharide based adjuvant technology, Advax which enhances antibody and T-cell immune responses against the antigens. It is easily formulated and can directly be mixed with the antigen. The same technology is being used in the development of COVAX-19 to escalate its longevity as well as efficacy.

What is the status of COVAX-19 trials so far?

On June 30, 2020, the PARC clinical trial team conducted the Phase 1 human trial (identifier, NCT04453852) of the vaccine with 40 healthy participants aged between 18 and 65 years. In order to evaluate the tolerability of the vaccine, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted wherein participants were given doses of active vaccine and placebo in the ratio 3:1. The study showed promising results as the vaccine was well tolerated and has the ability to induce humoral and cellular immune responses. No adverse effects were observed in the participants that got administered with the vaccine. The reactions were categorized as mild.

Vaxine is yet to undergo its Phase 2/3 trials and get started with the manufacturing of their vaccine at a bigger scale.

How effective are its other vaccine counterparts that are currently available around the world?

In clinical trials, it was reported that a single dose of Pfizer’s or Moderna’s COVID vaccine was 80% effective in preventing infection.

“It is likely that people will need a third dose of the vaccine within 12 months of getting fully vaccinated”, says Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. Moderna is also testing a potential booster of its current vaccine.

It has also been found recently that a combination of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine is highly effective and safe.

Pfizer’s recent study results have indicated that the vaccine is effective against the South African corona virus variant. During mid-march, reports showed that the J&J shot was found to be 64% effective in South Africa.

The pioneering team at Vaxine has been awarded funding of $1 million dollars from the Biomedical Translation Bridge (BTB) program, for the development of its covid 19 candidate, COVAX-19.

Sharen Pringle, Business Manager at Vaxine was quoted as saying, “The Vaxine team is very proud to be leading the Australian effort in development of COVID-19 vaccines.”