COVID-19 Treatments and Vaccines: How Soon?
Vaccines:
AstraZeneca/Oxford: The AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that has been genetically modified to carry the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine is produced by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca in collaboration with the University of Oxford.
Currently, the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine is undergoing Phase 3 trials in various countries. The results of these trials are expected in late 2020 or early 2021. If the vaccine proves to be effective and safe, it could be rolled out for public use by early 2021.
Pfizer/BioNTech: The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is developed using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. mRNA molecules carry the genetic instructions for producing proteins. In this case, the mRNA in the vaccine carries the instructions for producing the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine is produced by pharmaceutical company Pfizer in collaboration with German biotechnology company BioNTech.
The Phase 3 trial for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine started in July 2020. The results from the trial are expected by late November or early December 2020. If the vaccine proves to be effective and safe, it may be available for public use as early as December 2020.
Moderna: Similar to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine also uses mRNA technology to stimulate an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine is produced by the American biotechnology company Moderna.
The Phase 3 trials for the Moderna vaccine started in July 2020. The preliminary results from the trial showed that the vaccine is 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19. The vaccine is currently undergoing evaluation by regulatory authorities, and it could potentially be available for public use in early 2021.
Treatments:
Remdesivir: Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that was originally developed to treat Ebola. However, it has shown promising results in treating COVID-19 patients. The drug works by inhibiting the replication of SARS-CoV-2.
In a clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), remdesivir was found to shorten the recovery time for COVID-19 patients from 15 days to 11 days. The drug has been granted emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19.
Dexamethasone: Dexamethasone is a steroid drug commonly used to reduce inflammation in various conditions, including respiratory diseases. In clinical trials, dexamethasone has been shown to improve survival rates in severe COVID-19 patients who require oxygen support.
The RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy) trial, conducted in the United Kingdom, found that dexamethasone reduced the risk of death by one-third in patients on ventilators and by one-fifth in patients on oxygen. Dexamethasone has since been recommended for use in severe COVID-19 cases by many health authorities worldwide.
Convalescent Plasma: Convalescent plasma is the blood plasma collected from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. This plasma contains antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, which can potentially provide immunity to the virus when transfused into patients with active infection.
Convalescent plasma has shown promising results in clinical trials as a potential treatment for COVID-19. However, more research is needed to determine its effectiveness and optimal use. The FDA has issued an EUA for the use of convalescent plasma in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
It is important to note that the timelines for the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments may vary based on ongoing clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and manufacturing capacities.