An article recently released in Neuroscience News discusses the possible use of the Tuberculosis BCG vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. This drug is known for its protection against several respiratory viral infections.
VPM1002 is based on the BCG vaccine, which has been around since the beginning of the 20th century when it was developed by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology.
Studies on mice who have been injected with the BCG vaccine show less damage to the lungs, protection against viral infections of the respiratory tract, tuberculosis, and greater resistance to influenza and other viruses.
The genetically modified VPM1002 contains a weakened tuberculosis-like bacteria, which enables our immune cells to more easily recognize them. Scientists say that BCG also activates the immune system against viral infections, reducing the risk of disease progressions.
Australian researchers have just announced they will be conducting a trial with 4,000 healthcare workers and the BCG vaccine to see if it reduces COVID-19 symptoms. Researchers from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne said:
Although originally developed against tuberculosis, and still given to over 130 million babies annually for that purpose, BCG also boosts humans’ ‘frontline’ immunity, training it to respond to germs with greater intensity.
This trial is going to be fast-tracked and the 4,000 people enrolled in the study will begin within weeks. Lead researcher Nigel Curtis said, “We hope to see a reduction in the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 symptoms in healthcare workers receiving the BCG vaccination.”
Similar trials using the BCG vaccine are being conducted in Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.
The drug’s mainstream use and higher safety profile allow for the accelerated trials to take place. If this is successful it will be much easier to provide as Adar C. Poonawalla, CEO and Executive Director of the Serum Institute of India points out:
VPM1002 can be manufactured using state-of-the-art manufacturing methods which would make millions of doses available in a very short time.
Kathryn North, the Director of the Murdoch Institute in Australia said the hope is that by improving people’s “innate” immunity against COVID-19 symptoms, this may buy people some time until they find a vaccine. She goes on to say:
This trial will allow the vaccine’s effectiveness against COVID-19 symptoms to be properly tested, and may help save the lives of our heroic frontline healthcare workers, [and] will allow the rapid advancement of the most promising candidates to clinical practice, giving us the most number of shots on goal against COVID-19 as possible.
The other trials, specifically in Germany, have partnered with the Vakzine Project Management (VPM) and the Serum Institute of India. They have had discussions with authorities regarding a Phase III study using VPM1002 in Germany for healthcare workers and elderly, two groups who are more at risk if they contract the COVID-19 virus.
