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UK drugmaker <keyword id="6409874" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="astrazeneca" source="Orion">AstraZeneca</keyword> has partnered with scientists at <keyword id="84576" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="imperial" source="Orion">Imperial</keyword> College London to develop a new vaccine technology to treat cancer, heart conditions and other non-infectious diseases and illnesses. The technology was originally intended for targeting Covid-19, and works by delivering genetic material called self-amplifying RNA to human cells. The cells are then trained to recognise and respond to infection, The Independent reported. Imperial scientists had aimed to use the technology to design a Covid-19 jab. However, it never progressed further than stage two clinical testing. "We have clinical data that is good for the technology but it needs to be improved on," Prof Professor <keyword id="9465316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="robin-shattock" source="Orion">Robin Shattock</keyword>, an immunologist at Imperial, was quoted as saying. "AstraZeneca wants to take our approach and advance it. They see the potential of the platform." Besides creating a protective layer of antibodies and T-cells against the spike protein structure found on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the unique platform uses self-amplifying RNA to also make copies of itself once injected into humans, generating more of the original message. The team hopes the same technique can be used to teach the body to identify other foreign threats or internal malfunctions, such as cancer, and then neutralise them via trained immunological cells. <keyword id="796072" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shattock" source="Orion">Shattock</keyword> said his team, alongside experts at AstraZeneca, would be working to apply the self-amplifying RNA to a range of disease areas. He said there were no plans for human trials at this stage, with the immediate focus on first optimising the vaccine platform in the lab and determining whether it will be successful in treating the likes of cancer or heart disease. The agreement with AstraZeneca will support the Imperial team with research and development funding for up to 26 different drug targets, the report said. "We have all seen how technologies based around RNA have been fundamental to preventing ongoing severe disease and death in major global pandemics," said <keyword id="12195651" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="prof-shattock" source="Orion">Prof Shattock</keyword>. "The prospect of further therapeutic applications adds to this technology's great potential." SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/finolex-cables-shares-trade-lower-after-two-advisory-firms-accuse-the-firm-of-poor-corporate-governance/articleshow/86580654.cms">Finolex Cables under pressure after two advisory firms accuse the firm of poor corporate governance</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/take-a-deeper-look-at-the-meteoric-rise-of-glance-that-may-have-caught-mukesh-ambanis-eye/articleshow/86579569.cms">Take a deeper look at the meteoric rise of Glance that may have caught Mukesh Ambani’s eye</a>

AstraZeneca to develop vaccine for treating cancer and heart conditions

London, Jun 16 (AP) Scientists at Imperial College London will start immunising people in Britain this week with their experimental coronavirus shot, becoming the latest entry into the race to find an effective vaccine to stop the pandemic. In a statement on Monday, the British government said 300 healthy people will be immunized with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed at Imperial, which has been backed by 41 million pounds (USD51 million) in government funding. So far, the vaccine candidate developed by Imperial College London has only been tested in animals and in the laboratory, where it produced much higher levels of antibodies than would normally be seen in infected people. Many scientists have warned that the pandemic might only be stopped with an effective vaccine, which typically takes years to develop. "In the long term, a viable vaccine could be vital for protecting the most vulnerable, enabling restrictions to be eased and helping people get back to normal life," said Robin Shattock, who is leading the vaccine research. The vaccine uses synthetic strands of genetic code based on the virus. Once injected into the muscle, the body's own cells are instructed to make copies of a spiky protein on the coronavirus. That should in turn trigger an immune response so that the body can fight off any future COVID-19 infection. About a dozen vaccine candidates are currently in early stages of testing in thousands of people. There are no guarantees any will work but there's increasing hope that at least some could be ready by the end of the year. Oxford University recently began an advanced study involving 10,000 volunteers, and the US is preparing for even larger studies in July that involve 30,000 people each testing different candidates, including Oxford's and one made by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. Scientists have never created vaccines from scratch this fast and it's far from clear that any will ultimately prove safe and effective. Still, numerous countries, including Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the US, have already placed advance orders for millions of vaccines that could be available by the end of the year if they prove to be effective. The World Health Organization noted on Monday that there have been about 100,000 new cases reported every day for the past two weeks and that relaxed restrictions in many countries have led to a new surge of cases. (AP) IJT

UK begins trial of latest virus vaccine candidate this week

London, Jun 16 (AP) The French government announced more than 800 million euros ($890 million) in investment Tuesday as part of the worldwide race to find an effective vaccine. French President Emmanuel Macron visited a Sanofi lab Tuesday alongside CEO Paul Hudson, and announced 200 million euros in government investments to reduce France's dependence on other countries for vaccines and other medicines. Macron said France will "relocalize" production of some drugs as part of broader government efforts to revive the virus-battered economy and bring more manufacturing production back to France. Last month, Sanofi prompted outrage in France by promising to give the United States first access to the company's eventual vaccine, because the U.S. had invested more in its research. Sanofi later backtracked and said it would be available in all countries. Macron has pushed for vaccines to be considered a "common good" for humanity that must not be subject to market pressures. The Imperial vaccine uses synthetic strands of genetic code based on the virus. Once injected into the muscle, the body's own cells are instructed to make copies of a spiky protein on the coronavirus. That should in turn trigger an immune response so the body can fight off any future COVID-19 infection. Dr. Doug Brown, chief executive of the British Society for Immunology, said the technology used by Imperial College London should theoretically lead to long-term immunity against the coronavirus but now needs to go through rigorous testing. He was not linked to the trial. Oxford University recently began an advanced study involving 10,000 volunteers, and the U.S. is preparing for even larger studies in July that involve 30,000 people each testing different candidates, including Oxford's and one made by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. Scientists have never created vaccines from scratch this fast and it's far from clear that any will ultimately prove safe and effective. Still, numerous countries, including Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S., have already placed advance orders for millions of vaccines. Shattock said the Imperial vaccine, if effective, would not be licensed to any particular pharmaceutical, but various manufacturing partners around the world would be given permission to produce it as part of a "social business" that does not make any profits. "We can't provide it at no cost because it takes money to make," he said. "We'll provide it at cost of goods with a small percentage -and that small percentage will vary depending on the economic status of the country." The World Health Organization noted Monday about 100,000 new infections have been reported every day for the past two weeks and that relaxed lockdown restrictions in many countries have led to a new surge of cases. (AP) RS RS RS

France pledges funding UK begins coronavirus vaccine trial

By Aditi Khanna London, June 23 () The first healthy volunteer has now received a coronavirus vaccine developed by Imperial College London researchers, the team behind the project said on Tuesday. The clinical team, who delivered a small dose of the vaccine to the participant at a west London facility, are closely monitoring the participant and report they are in good health, with no safety concerns. The human trials of the vaccine are also the first test of a new self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) technology. "We have reached a significant milestone in this ground-breaking study with the first dose of a self-amplifying RNA vaccine delivered safely," said Dr Katrina Pollock, from Imperial's Department of Infectious Disease and Chief Investigator of the study. "We are now poised to test the vaccine in the dose evaluation phase before moving forward to evaluating it in larger numbers," she said, adding that thousands have been signing up to be a part of the ongoing vaccine studies. Imperial College London's vaccine candidate is being developed and trialled as part of 41 million pounds in funding from the UK government and a further 5 million pounds in philanthropic donations. The team say that it has undergone "rigorous" pre-clinical safety tests and in animal studies it has been shown to be safe and produced encouraging signs of an effective immune response. The new saRNA technology being trialled with it is claimed to have the potential to revolutionise vaccine development and enable scientists to respond more quickly to emerging diseases. "The first participant marks an important step for our saRNA vaccine platform, which has never before been trialled in humans," Professor Robin Shattock, from the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, who is leading the work. "We now eagerly await rapid recruitment to the trial so that we can assess both the safety of the vaccine and its ability to produce neutralising antibodies which would indicate an effective response against COVID-19," he said. The first volunteer, who has asked to remain anonymous, has now received a first dose vaccine, with a second booster dose to follow within four weeks. Several others are expected to receive a first dose over the coming days. The clinical team will continue to monitor all participants closely for safety, as well as looking to see if they produce antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, virus. In the initial stage of the trial, 15 healthy volunteers are receiving the vaccine – starting with a low dose and escalating to increasingly higher doses for subsequent volunteers – to assess safety and to find the optimal dosage. Over the coming weeks, 300 healthy participants are expected to receive two doses of the vaccine. If the vaccine is safe and shows a promising immune response in humans, then larger trials would be planned for later in the year. The Imperial College London vaccine is the UK's second major vaccine candidate alongside one being tested by Oxford University, also backed by the UK government through its ongoing human trials. UK has reported 305,289 infections of coronavirus so far and the deaths stand at 42,647. AK RUP RUP

First volunteer given UK's Imperial College COVID-19 vaccine

By Aditi Khanna London, Jun 16 () Clinical researchers began human trials this week of a new coronavirus vaccine developed by scientists at Imperial College London. The study, which involves a set of people being immunised with the vaccine, will be the first time trialled on humans and will test whether it is well-tolerated and produces an effective immune response against COVID-19. "The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed thousands of lives and had a huge impact on daily life. In the long-term, a viable vaccine could be vital for protecting the most vulnerable, enabling restrictions to be eased and helping people to get back to normal life," said Professor Robin Shattock, from the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial who is leading the work. "From a scientific perspective, new technologies mean we have been able to get moving on a potential vaccine with unprecedented speed. We've been able to produce a vaccine from scratch and take it to human trials in just a few months – from code to candidate – which has never been done before with this type of vaccine. If our approach works and the vaccine provides effective protection against disease, it could revolutionise how we respond to disease outbreaks in future," he said. The researchers expect to publish findings once the safety data are available and are hopeful a viable vaccine could be available in the first half of 2021. They say the vaccine has undergone rigorous pre-clinical safety tests and in animal studies it has been shown to be safe and produced encouraging signs of an effective immune response. Imperial College London said its vaccine candidate is being developed and trialled as a result of a 41-million pound UK government funding and a further 5 million pound in philanthropic donations. It will be the first test of a new self-amplifying RNA technology, which has the potential to revolutionise vaccine development and enable scientists to respond more quickly to emerging diseases. "The fast progress of Imperial's vaccine is testament to the ingenuity and tenacity of Britain's researchers. If these trials are successful, a vaccine will not only help us tackle coronavirus but also emerging diseases now and into the future," said UK Business Secretary Alok Sharma. Over the coming weeks, 300 healthy participants will receive two doses of the vaccine. If the vaccine is safe and shows a promising immune response in humans, then larger Phase III trials would be planned to begin later in the year with around 6,000 healthy volunteers to test its effectiveness. Ultimately, the researchers hope that if clinical trials are successful, the vaccine could provide protection against COVID-19 both in the UK and around the world. Dr Katrina Pollock, from Imperial's Department of Infectious Disease and Chief Investigator of the study, said: "These clinical studies are crucial in showing the safety of any new vaccine, and demonstrating the immune response it produces. "We need to assess whether the vaccine can train the immune system to defend itself against COVID-19. The vaccine can then be rolled out to more people in the UK and beyond in pivotal trials." In the initial part of the study, the team will look to assess safety and find the optimal dose of the vaccine in 15 healthy participants aged 18 to 45 at a west London facility. The first participant will receive a very low dose of the vaccine, before the team escalates to increasingly higher doses for subsequent volunteers. Following this initial small group, the team will then recruit further healthy volunteers (aged 18-75) to trial the optimal dose of vaccine in a larger population. The combined Phase I/II studies will aim to deliver the vaccine to a total of 300 people at the west London facility and additional sites. All volunteers will receive two doses of the vaccine over two visits – an initial dose and then a second boosting dose four weeks later. Many traditional vaccines are based on a weakened or modified form of virus, or parts of it, but the Imperial vaccine is based on a new approach. It uses synthetic strands of genetic code (called RNA), based on the virus' genetic material. Once injected into muscle, the RNA self amplifies – generating copies of itself – and instructs the body's own cells to make copies of a spiky protein found on the outside of the virus. This should train the immune system to respond to the coronavirus so the body can easily recognise it and defend itself against COVID-19 in future. Kate Bingham, Vaccine Taskforce Chair, said: "I am delighted that Imperial College have so quickly advanced to the clinical trial stage. Their self-amplifying technology has the potential to be a real game-changer, not only for a COVID-19 vaccine but for the development of future vaccines. It's a great example of the world-leading life sciences sector in this country. "By backing Imperial College London and their alternative vaccine platform, we have enhanced the UK's vaccine portfolio, increasing our chances of identifying a successful vaccine." AK AMS AMS

UK's Imperial College begins human trials for COVID-19 vaccine

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> immunity starts to fade away just weeks after people show symptoms, a new study by UK scientists showed.</li><li>King's College London research found that the presence of <keyword id="102007" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Antibodies">antibodies</keyword> peaked three weeks after symptoms appeared, before fading away.</li><li>In some cases, the antibodies were undetectable three months afterward.</li><li>It followed a Spanish study last week that also showed antibody protection rapidly declining in many patients.</li><li>One of the UK study's authors said it put "another nail in the coffin of the dangerous concept of <keyword id="2147226" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="herd-immunity">herd immunity</keyword>."</li></ul>Immunity to the coronavirus may disappear within months for many patients, according to a major new UK study which found that antibodies peaked three weeks after symptoms appeared, before gradually fading away.For some patients, no antibodies were detected after just a few months, throwing doubt on hopes for a long-lasting vaccine.The study, which was carried out by scientists at King's College London and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/12/immunity-to-covid-19-could-be-lost-in-months-uk-study-suggests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported by The Guardian</a>, "puts another nail in the coffin of the dangerous concept of herd immunity," one of its authors said.The study was based on the antibody responses of 90 patients and health workers at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It showed that 60% of those tested had "potent" antibodies while battling COVID-19, but just 17% had the same level of potency three months later.The potency of the antibodies fell by as much as 23 times over the three months, the study found, and in some cases were undetectable at the end of that period of time.The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that antibodies were more potent and lasted longer in patients with the most severe cases of the COVID-19 virus.However, the findings suggest that like a common cold, the coronavirus can reinfect people, even if they developed antibodies during their first infection.It is the latest study to pour cold water over so-called herd immunity — the theory that a population will become immune to the virus if at least 60% of people catch it.A similar study in Spain, which was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-antibodies-study-herd-immunity-unachievable-spain-2020-7?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published last week</a>, found that just 5% of people tested maintained coronavirus antibodies. Fourteen percent of people who tested positive for the antibodies in the first round of testing did not test positive in subsequent tests carried out weeks later.Two of the Spanish study's authors, Isabella Eckerle and Benjamin Meyer, said: "In light of these findings, any proposed approach to achieve herd immunity through natural infection is not only highly unethical, but also unachievable."Authors of the new UK report reached similar conclusions.One of the UK study's authors, professor Stuart Neil, said the study showed any immunity generated "doesn't last very long.""One thing we know about these coronaviruses is that people can get reinfected fairly often," he said. "What that must mean is that the protective immunity people generate doesn't last very long. It looks like Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, might be falling into that pattern as well."The study "puts another nail in the coffin of the dangerous concept of herd immunity," professor Jonathan Heeney, a virologist at the University of Cambridge, said, adding that deliberately trying to get infected in the name of herd immunity created the risk of severe health damage in the future."I cannot underscore how important it is that the public understands that getting infected by this virus is not a good thing. Some of the public, especially the youth, have become somewhat cavalier about getting infected, thinking that they would contribute to herd immunity," he said."Not only will they place themselves at risk, and others, by getting infected, and losing immunity, they may even put themselves at greater risk of more severe lung disease if they get infected again in the years to come," he added.However, professor Arne Akbar, who is an immunologist at UCL, told The Guardian that T cells, which are produced to fight common colds, may help supplement the protection produced by antibodies, meaning that immunity may last longer than the study suggests.<h2>The findings suggest one vaccine won't be enough</h2><div type="image" title="Oxford University coronavirus vaccine test" height="600" width="1200" msid="76941502" hostid="261"></div>Katie Doores of King's College London, the UK study's lead author, said the findings could be a sign that any future vaccine for the coronavirus would need to be provided regularly for people to maintain immunity."People are producing a reasonable antibody response to the virus, but it's waning over a short period of time and depending on how high your peak is, that determines how long the antibodies are staying around," she said."Infection tends to give you the best-case scenario for an antibody response, so if your infection is giving you antibody levels that wane in two to three months, the vaccine will potentially do the same thing," she added. "People may need boosting and one shot might not be sufficient."In an interview with Sky <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news">News</keyword> reported by The Guardian, professor Robin Shattock of Imperial College London said that while reinfection would probably be "less severe" because of people retaining "immune memory," the risk of them passing on the virus meant they would likely have to receive boosts of the vaccine on a regular basis."Ultimately this may require the use of annual boosting immunisations, particularly for the most vulnerable. This could be delivered alongside annual influenza immunisations," he said.UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has denied initially trying to pursue a strategy of herd immunity before it was warned that it would lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-told-italian-pm-conte-coronavirus-herd-immunity-plan-2020-6?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An Italian health minister last month said</a> Johnson revealed his intention to pursue herd immunity in a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on March 13, a little more than a week before the UK entered a countrywide lockdown.On the same day, Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser to the UK government, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/coronavirus-science-chief-defends-uk-measures-criticism-herd-immunity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he believed the UK would be able to achieve herd immunity.

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AstraZeneca to develop vaccine for treating cancer and heart conditions

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UK begins trial of latest virus vaccine candidate this week

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France pledges funding UK begins coronavirus vaccine trial

PTI

First volunteer given UK's Imperial College COVID-19 vaccine

PTI

UK's Imperial College begins human trials for COVID-19 vaccine

PTI

Coronavirus immunity can start to fade away within weeks, according to a new study which puts a 'nail in the coffin' in the idea of herd immunity

Adam Payne

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