Which potential vaccines has the UK secured access to?
The UK now has access to six different Covid-19 vaccine candidates in development, across four different types, representing some 340 million doses.
Priority groups such as frontline health workers, those with serious diseases, the elderly and ethnic minorities are first in line to receive a jab, should a vaccine be approved.
The deals cover four different classes: adenoviral vaccines, mRNA vaccines, inactivated whole virus vaccines and protein adjuvant vaccines.
These are based on weakened versions of adenoviruses, which are a group of viruses that typically infect membranes of the eyes, respiratory tract, urinary tract, intestines and nervous system, and include the common cold.
Traditional vaccines are made up of small or inactivated doses of the whole disease-causing organism, or the proteins that it produces, which are introduced into the body to provoke the immune system into mounting a response. But mRNA vaccines trick the body into producing some of the viral proteins itself.
Inactivated vaccines contain whole bacteria or viruses which have been killed, or small parts of bacteria or viruses, such as proteins or sugars, which cannot cause disease.
An adjuvant is added to some vaccines to enhance the immune response, and has been shown to create a stronger and longer lasting immunity against infections than the vaccine alone.
The use of an adjuvant may reduce the amount of vaccine protein required per dose, which allows more vaccine doses to be produced.
We are honored to collaborate with the #UK Government to advance #NVXCoV2373 into Phase 3 testing and provide 60 million doses for the UK. Read more here: https://t.co/XrZYcEC1QP. #COVID19 #vaccine #Novavax2020 pic.twitter.com/dAcL7Rapyk
— Novavax (@Novavax) August 14, 2020
Protein adjuvant. The US biotech’s vaccine comprises a recombinant nanoparticle technology containing an engineered Covid-19 spike protein and the saponin-based adjuvant Matrix-M designed to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralising antibodies.
Under the in-principle agreement, the UK has secured 60 million doses of the Novavax vaccine.
The UK is to support and provide infrastructure to Novavax in running a phase 3 clinical trial in the UK, and plans to manufacture its vaccine in the UK with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies.
Recent clinical data shows the vaccine triggers an immune response greater than that in patients who have recovered from the disease.
NEW: We've just secured early access to 90m doses of two promising Covid-19 vaccine candidates from @Novavax and @JanssenGlobal
— Rt Hon Lord Alok Sharma (@AlokSharma_RDG) August 14, 2020
The UK has now secured six different vaccines - ensuring we have the best chance possible of finding one that works
👇 👇 👇https://t.co/x4eR9mL0iH
Adenovirus
Some 30 million doses have been secured from Janssen, which is owned by Johnson and Johnson, and ministers have agreed in principle to co-fund a global clinical study of its vaccine.
The next phase of clinical trials is expected to begin later this year to look at whether providing two doses of the vaccine candidate to participants provides long-term protection against coronavirus.
mRNA
30 million
Early phases of clinical trials suggest the vaccine induces a robust immune response in healthy adults. The phase 2/3 study will enrol up to 30,000 participants aged between 18 and 85.
Inactivated whole virus
There is an in-principle agreement for 60 million doses. If the vaccine is proven to be safe, effective and suitable, the UK has secured an option to acquire a further 40 million doses.
Valneva’s site in Livingston, West Lothian, will manufacture the vaccine. Clinical trials are expected to start before the end of the year.
Last week we announced we’d reached an agreement with the United States government and @GOVUK to supply 160m potential doses of the #COVID19 vaccine candidate we’re co-developing with @sanofi. Find out about our partnerships in the fight against COVID-19: https://t.co/EZYpO97E3b pic.twitter.com/BAlUHcyNgw
— GSK (@GSK) August 4, 2020
Protein adjuvant
60 million
Human clinical studies of the vaccine will begin in September followed by a phase 3 study in December.
Adenovirus
Up to 100 million
Preliminary results of phase 1/2 clinical trials suggest the vaccine is safe and induces an immune reaction.
Phase 2, in the UK only, and phase 3 trials to confirm whether it effectively protects against the virus are taking place in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.