Cuban Center of Engineering and Biotechnology is working on a third anti-covid vaccine to be applied through the nose

The Cuban scientific community is working today on a third vaccination candidate against Covid-19, the first one not injectable and would be applied through the nose.

Developed by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), this project focuses on immunization through the nasal route since the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, is respiratory and infects through the nasopharynx mucosa.

The Director of the CIGB's Biomedical Research, Gerardo Guillén, explained to Prensa Latina that the immunization by this method favors developing a local response, whose objective is to prevent the disease, the colonization, and transmission of the pathogenic agent.

He explained that the new vaccine candidate is based on a protein of the hepatitis B virus, produced using recombinant genetic engineering in bacteria and yeasts in the form of particles, whose properties also boost the immune system.

This new vaccine against Covid-19, similar to the two presented by the Finlay Institute of Cuba, uses the platform of subunits based on specific proteins obtained from biotechnological methods.

The platform by subunit is, perhaps, the one that takes more time to provide a vaccination candidate. Still, it has the advantage of safety, since it is not worked with a virus or with a complex mixture where there can be toxic compounds or which generate unexpected effects in the organism,' Guillén explained.

This week, the CIGB delivered the documentation to evaluate this vaccination candidate against Covid-19, after the Center for State Control of Drugs and Medical Equipment, the island's regulatory authority, approved its analysis.

Cuba currently has two drugs against Covid-19 in a phase of clinical trials (Sovereign 01 and Sovereign 02). By the end of 2020, the scientific community is expected to register a fourth vaccine candidate against the pandemic.

This was confirmed by the President of the Cuban business group BioCubaFarma, Eduardo Martínez, who highlighted that the strategy outlined to have Cuban vaccines against Covid-19 'is going well' and before the end of this year, there will be four candidates in clinical trials.

In 2021, our population will be immunized against this virus. Cubans can trust their scientists committed to the country', he stated.