A research team from the Institute of Medical Research and Consultation at Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University in the Eastern Province – Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has succeeded in reaching the first Saudi vaccine against Coronavirus COVID-19.
The team led by Dr. Iman Al-Mansour revealed that the pre-clinical studies were completed and the research was published in a scientific journal and clinical trials will start after taking the necessary approvals.
According to Okaz, a daily Saudi newspaper, the research team from the institute is waiting for the necessary approvals to start clinical trials for vaccine research.
Regarding the research study, Dr. Al-Mansour (Assistant Professor, who holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology from the University of Massachusetts, USA), said that the "SARS-Cove-2" vaccine, against "Covid-19", was developed by using DNA vaccine technology.
This technology provides several advantages, including its ability to stimulate cellular immunity, ease of transport, storage, and high stability, as it does not require transporting it under very low temperature.
Dr. Al-Mansour indicated that the vaccine consists of ingredients that make an improved gene sequence for the spinal protein “S” of the virus with different combinations.
The vaccine is given to the body to copy and build the “S” protein inside cells, which in turn stimulates the body to produce immunity for the “S” antigen, as it showed the pre-clinical study is the production of neutralizing antibodies and antibodies against the "S" antigen, in addition to the production of cytokines as a marker of cellular immunity.
Al-Mansour emphasized that this study is considered among the strategic projects and scientific research at Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University supported by the Agency for Research and Innovation in the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It is worth noting the KSA is one of the most inflicted by the Coronavirus as hundreds of thousands of infections were confirmed there.
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