Intra-nasal covid vaccine trial: Bharat Biotech conducting Phase 2 and 3 trials of the nasal covid vaccine

NEW DELHI, Sept 13: A simple nasal vaccine for covid that is dirt cheap or even costing nothing and at the same time more effective in checking viral entry into the body than the intramuscular vaccine is round the corner, it has been officially stated.

Why is the world going slow on intranasal vaccine development for coronavirus

A more effective, simple, cheap nasal spray vaccine on its way

Even as the intramuscular vaccines that have consumed billions and billions of dollars were about time to prove its worth, the pandemic has receded on its own, just like it came, except in a few places. The proof of the pudding only will be in a third wave, if it comes. Of course, if the surge that is on in the US continues for some more time, that trial by fire will be good enough. All this because, unlike medicines, the determination of efficacy of a vaccine is by the logics called deduction and not a laboratory test. And, now that all the money has been sucked out from across the world, the pharma industry can shift its focus to developing the least profitable intra-nasal vaccine as proposed by some well-meaning ruling dispensations.

Advantage intra-nasal vaccine: Covid infects only via the nasal passage and not through blood or food. The intra-nasal vaccine produces immunoglobulins in the nasal mucosa providing local immunity which prevents the virus from moving into the lower respiratory tract and the lungs leading to fatality. Therefore, nasal vaccine also prevents transmission as there is no virion in the exhalation breath.

On the other hand, intramuscular vaccine produces circulating antibodies to fight off virus. IgG constitutes up to 80% of the total antibodies. An antibody is a protein of the immune system called immunoglobulin. It circulates in the blood, identifies bacteria and viruses and neutralizes them. But there is no guarantee. Blood tests can determine the level of immunoglobulin in the blood. If immunoglobulin levels are too high, it may indicate an autoimmune disease or any other illness.

Intra-nasal vaccine is non-invasive as no needle is used. It is just sprayed or dropped into the nostrils. No health worker is needed as it is self-administered. Needle-associated risks of injuries and infections are also avoided. And no anxieties. Storage and transportation is simple unlike the intramuscular vaccines which is very expensive and technology-intensive to store and transport under rigorous conditions. Nasal vaccine can be easily available across the counter for negligible cost and self-administered like any other drops.

There is a high degree of compliance as it goes easy with children as well as adults. The simple manufacturing can scale up production to meet global demands.

The final phase 2 and 3 trials of the nasal vaccine of Bharat Biotech (BBV154) are being conducted in New Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The results of the phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers of age groups ranging from 18 to 60 years have been promising, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. It was found very effective in blocking both infection and transmission. It blocks viral entry into the body in the entry stage itself.

Scientists are also of the opinion that the vaccine given intranasally may be able to not only block SARS-CoV-2 in both the nasal passages but also in the bloodstream, doing the job of the intramuscular vaccine too, apart from preventing transmission.

A study by the US National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) found that a nasal spray of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine protected hamsters and monkeys from serious disease and reduced the amount of virus in the nostrils.