Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., a technology-based pharmaceutical company based on technology developed by Hadassah University Medical Center, announced over the weekend a joint venture with Premas Biotech to develop a new oral vaccine. Together they form the company Oravax Medical Inc. The vaccine is based on Oramed’s “POD” oral delivery technology and Premas’ vaccine technology.
Oramed’s technology can be used to orally administer a number of protein-based therapies, which are otherwise administered by injection. Oramed is in the midst of a Phase III clinical trial by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of an oral insulin capsule for type I and type II diabetics.
Premas has been working since March on developing a vaccine against the new coronavirus.
“An oral COVID-19 vaccine will eliminate several barriers to rapid distribution on a large scale, potentially enabling people to take the vaccine home,” Kidron said. “Although the ease of administration today is critical to accelerate vaccination, an oral vaccine can become even more valuable than a COVID-19 vaccine annually as the standard flu shot can be recommended.”
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The company completed a experimental animal study and found that the vaccine promotes the development of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and Immunoglobulin A (IgA). IgA is required for longer term immunity.
In addition, it is a yeast-based vaccine, which makes the production time and cost much cheaper than its already approved competitors.
The benefits of an oral vaccination go beyond safety and effectiveness, Kidron continued. He said that oral medications tend to have fewer side effects; about 10% of people vaccinated by Pfizer or Moderna have a detrimental effect.
In addition, the vaccine can be shipped at refrigerator temperatures and even stored at room temperature, making it logistically easier to get it anywhere in the world, Kidron said.
Finally, professional administration does not require an oral vaccine.
Oravax expects a clinical trial to begin during the second quarter of 2021. Kidron said he is applying for trials in several countries, including the United States, Israel, Europe and Mexico. It hopes to target Africa as well, where such an oral vaccination may be necessary.
Kidron said he expects Phase I human trial data to be available within three months.
In February 2020, shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, another Israeli team began developing what they had hoped would be an oral coronavirus vaccine. Scientists from the biotechnology group of the Galilee Research Institute, who developed a coronavirus vaccine that has been shown to be effective in preclinical trials and believe it would translate into a human vaccine, said they were willing to put their vaccine inside to develop a few short months. .
The Jerusalem Post has been following the institute’s researchers and spokespersons several times over the past few months for a status update, but no information has been provided.