Brazilian researchers to test Covid vaccine spray on humans

A Brazilian nasal spray Covid-19 vaccine could be tested on humans soon, pending approval from health regulator Anvisa.

Phase 1 and 2 trials — which analyze toxicity and immune response — could be merged into a single three-month process, testing on people who have already been vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. This will be followed by phase 3 clinical trials which will attest to the product’s efficacy in a broader sample of the population.

The project is led by Jorge Kalil, chief of the Clinical Immunology and Allergy Lab at the University of São Paulo’s Hospital das Clínicas. The goal is to create an intranasal vaccine with no need for needles, targeted for use as a booster shot for those already vaccinated.

Roughly 270 volunteers aged between 18 and 59 will be recruited for the tests, with 180 given the vaccine and 90 receiving a placebo. The non-placebo group will also be divided into multiple sets who will receive different dosages, checking for differences in efficacy and safety.

Results could be expected by mid-2022.

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