THE SECOND (CBSLA) – A new vaccine developed by one of the owners of the Los Angeles Lakers could offer protection against COVID-19 without the need to inject.
An El Segundo research institute is testing whether a COVID-19 oral vaccine can work as well, if not better, than existing vaccines. (CBSLA)
Researchers at El Segundo’s Chan Soon-Shiong Research Institute are testing whether a series of capsules can work as well, if not better, than existing COVID vaccines.
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“Having a vaccine at room temperature that could be a pill changes lives,” said Dr. Tara Seery, a test doctor.
The oral vaccine is part of an experimental protocol that is being tested in healthy volunteers like Matt Henshaw.
But because scientists still don’t know if the pills alone can prevent transmission, researchers are testing four different approaches. Some patients, such as Henshaw, receive an injection and two pills.
But the delivery of the vaccine, in capsule, is not the only thing that differentiates this vaccine from others.
While existing vaccines help create antibodies to the ear protein on the surface of the coronavirus, ImmunityBio’s T-cell vaccine targets the central world, a part scientists say is less prone. to mutation.
“And the value of doing that is that we generate killer T cells,” said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who owns Lakers and part brain vaccine.
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ImmunityBio researchers hypothesize that they can create long-term protection against the virus by generating both killer T cells and antibodies.
Soon-Shiong believes there is reason for optimism for lasting protection, although Operation Warp Speed-funded vaccine is still in the experimental stages with safety and efficacy yet to be demonstrated.
“We know from the previous SARS-VOC-1 of 2003, that people who became infected have T cells that have lasted 17 years,” he said.
As for oral administration of the vaccine, it’s not just about avoiding a necessary blow, with Soon-Shiong believing that combining the two may be the key.
“Giving a punch, we hope to develop T cells all over the body,” he said. “And by administering it orally, we protect the mucous membranes, the intestine and hopefully the nose, the mouth, because that’s how the virus enters. It doesn’t enter through the blood.”
As for Henshaw, now that he has finished the vaccine and boosters, he will undergo intensive monitoring for the next twelve months and hopes his experience will encourage other people to enter a trial.
“The virus is mutating,” he said. “So I hope we have solutions.”
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The trial is open to healthy adults under the age of 55 who are not pregnant and have not had COVID. More information about the vaccine trial can be found on the ImmunityBio website.