Coronavirus Nasal Spray Vaccine to be Tested in China

China's only nasal spray vaccine against the novel coronavirus is expected to start phase I clinical trials during November 2020 and is currently recruiting about 100 participants.

Reported by the Global Times on September 10, 2020, the nasal spray vaccine candidate uses a live attenuated influenza vaccine and is a collaborative effort between the University of Hong Kong, Xiamen University, and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy.

A leading microbiologist from the University of Hong Kong Yuen, Kwok-Yung told the Global Times ‘that the vaccine stimulates the natural infection pathway of respiratory viruses to activate the immune response. However, it would take at least another year to finish clinical trials.  

The nasal spray vaccination could generate double protection for vaccine recipients - influenza and the novel coronavirus — if it also contains influenza viruses including H1N1, H3N2, and B, Yuen noted. 

This coronavirus nasal spray vaccine candidate has been approved by China's National Medical Products Administration. China has approved 10 coronavirus vaccines for clinical trials, including inactivated vaccines, adenoviral vector-based vaccines, and DNA and mRNA vaccines.

The immunologist said the ‘new vaccine may not cause systemic side effects, but side effects may occur in the respiratory system such as asthma and shortness of breath. Ideally, Yuen said that scientists do not expect side effects except for minor nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea.’

And, ‘it is not yet clear whether immunity generated from nasal spray vaccinations will last longer than for injected vaccines.’

An updated listing of SARS-CoV-2 preventive vaccine candidates is published by CoronavirusToday.  

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based vaccine development news.