Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

[BlueTex]

This is pretty exciting.. If this pans out, this could speed up ending the pandemic...


A pair of dedicated Texas researchers are poised to play a significant part in making that happen. Dr. Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi, co-directors of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, in Houston, have helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine that’s likely to become one of the cheapest and most accessible vaccines throughout the world. It’s just entered phase three clinical trials in India, and it could prove vital to low-income countries that can’t afford to purchase or manufacture the sort of vaccines that are widely available in the United States.

“Right now, nobody in Africa is getting vaccinated, and not many more are in Latin America or Southeast Asia, because we don’t have a scaled-up vaccine for low- and middle-income countries,” says Hotez, also dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “We’re hoping this one will fill the gap. We think it’s going to be one of the real, truly low-cost people’s vaccines that could be used to vaccinate the world.”

What makes their vaccine, Corbevax, so special is that, well, it’s not that special. Instead of relying on newer—and more expensive—technology, such as mRNA (as in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) or adenovirus vectors (the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines), Corbevax is a more conventional recombinant protein vaccine. It’s designed the same way as the hepatitis B vaccine and others that have been in use for decades. Yet testing so far suggests that Corbevax is about as effective as its newer, fancier counterparts, with an efficacy over 85 percent.

Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

For low-income countries, the less-expensive, easier-to-make Corbevax could prove a godsend.

www.texasmonthly.com

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Do you think they might be able to convince Texans to take it?
After all, it IS Made in Texas, so they should be able to trust it, yes?

 

[Mycroft]

This is pretty exciting.. If this pans out, this could speed up ending the pandemic...


A pair of dedicated Texas researchers are poised to play a significant part in making that happen. Dr. Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi, co-directors of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, in Houston, have helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine that’s likely to become one of the cheapest and most accessible vaccines throughout the world. It’s just entered phase three clinical trials in India, and it could prove vital to low-income countries that can’t afford to purchase or manufacture the sort of vaccines that are widely available in the United States.

“Right now, nobody in Africa is getting vaccinated, and not many more are in Latin America or Southeast Asia, because we don’t have a scaled-up vaccine for low- and middle-income countries,” says Hotez, also dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “We’re hoping this one will fill the gap. We think it’s going to be one of the real, truly low-cost people’s vaccines that could be used to vaccinate the world.”

What makes their vaccine, Corbevax, so special is that, well, it’s not that special. Instead of relying on newer—and more expensive—technology, such as mRNA (as in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) or adenovirus vectors (the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines), Corbevax is a more conventional recombinant protein vaccine. It’s designed the same way as the hepatitis B vaccine and others that have been in use for decades. Yet testing so far suggests that Corbevax is about as effective as its newer, fancier counterparts, with an efficacy over 85 percent.

Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

For low-income countries, the less-expensive, easier-to-make Corbevax could prove a godsend.

www.texasmonthly.com

I hope this works and I hope the FDA approves it.

But I predict the FDA won't. Those other vaccine manufacturers will make sure this one doesn't cut into their profits.

I can help the rest of the world, but I don't expect it to help any of the first world countries.

 

[BlueTex]

I hope this works and I hope the FDA approves it.

But I predict the FDA won't. Those other vaccine manufacturers will make sure this one doesn't cut into their profits.

I can help the rest of the world, but I don't expect it to help any of the first world countries.

I tend to agree, however, FDA approval is not needed where this could be used most: third world countries who can't afford the fancy stuff we are making...

 

[BlueTex]

Do you think they might be able to convince Texans to take it?
After all, it IS Made in Texas, so they should be able to trust it, yes?

Naw... It won't be made in Texas, too much pharma money flooding into Austin...

 

[BlueTex]

Do you think they might be able to convince Texans to take it?
After all, it IS Made in Texas, so they should be able to trust it, yes?

LOL

 

[Mycroft]

I tend to agree, however, FDA approval is not needed where this could be used most: third world countries who can't afford the fancy stuff we are making...

My guess is these people creating this vaccine won't even present it to the FDA for approval.

 

[madman]

This is pretty exciting.. If this pans out, this could speed up ending the pandemic...

Not if the GOP has their way.

 

[noonereal]

This is pretty exciting.. If this pans out, this could speed up ending the pandemic...


A pair of dedicated Texas researchers are poised to play a significant part in making that happen. Dr. Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi, co-directors of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, in Houston, have helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine that’s likely to become one of the cheapest and most accessible vaccines throughout the world. It’s just entered phase three clinical trials in India, and it could prove vital to low-income countries that can’t afford to purchase or manufacture the sort of vaccines that are widely available in the United States.

“Right now, nobody in Africa is getting vaccinated, and not many more are in Latin America or Southeast Asia, because we don’t have a scaled-up vaccine for low- and middle-income countries,” says Hotez, also dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “We’re hoping this one will fill the gap. We think it’s going to be one of the real, truly low-cost people’s vaccines that could be used to vaccinate the world.”

What makes their vaccine, Corbevax, so special is that, well, it’s not that special. Instead of relying on newer—and more expensive—technology, such as mRNA (as in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) or adenovirus vectors (the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines), Corbevax is a more conventional recombinant protein vaccine. It’s designed the same way as the hepatitis B vaccine and others that have been in use for decades. Yet testing so far suggests that Corbevax is about as effective as its newer, fancier counterparts, with an efficacy over 85 percent.

Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

For low-income countries, the less-expensive, easier-to-make Corbevax could prove a godsend.

www.texasmonthly.com

We don't need another vaccine that is 40% effective at any cost.

 

[minnie616]

I hope this works and I hope the FDA approves it.

But I predict the FDA won't. Those other vaccine manufacturers will make sure this one doesn't cut into their profits.

I can help the rest of the world, but I don't expect it to help any of the first world countries.

The mRNA vaccines are not expensive medications but not cheep either.

The government pays $19.50 for a dose of Pfizer vaccine and $15 a dose for the Moderna vaccine.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine costs $ 10 per dose.

Corbevax is expected to cost only about $1.50 per dose, since its supplies are cheap and easily accessible.

Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

For low-income countries, the less-expensive, easier-to-make Corbevax could prove a godsend.

www.texasmonthly.com

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

This is pretty exciting.. If this pans out, this could speed up ending the pandemic...


A pair of dedicated Texas researchers are poised to play a significant part in making that happen. Dr. Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi, co-directors of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, in Houston, have helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine that’s likely to become one of the cheapest and most accessible vaccines throughout the world. It’s just entered phase three clinical trials in India, and it could prove vital to low-income countries that can’t afford to purchase or manufacture the sort of vaccines that are widely available in the United States.

“Right now, nobody in Africa is getting vaccinated, and not many more are in Latin America or Southeast Asia, because we don’t have a scaled-up vaccine for low- and middle-income countries,” says Hotez, also dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “We’re hoping this one will fill the gap. We think it’s going to be one of the real, truly low-cost people’s vaccines that could be used to vaccinate the world.”

What makes their vaccine, Corbevax, so special is that, well, it’s not that special. Instead of relying on newer—and more expensive—technology, such as mRNA (as in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) or adenovirus vectors (the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines), Corbevax is a more conventional recombinant protein vaccine. It’s designed the same way as the hepatitis B vaccine and others that have been in use for decades. Yet testing so far suggests that Corbevax is about as effective as its newer, fancier counterparts, with an efficacy over 85 percent.

Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

For low-income countries, the less-expensive, easier-to-make Corbevax could prove a godsend.

www.texasmonthly.com

Assuming that it works and doesn't have disastrous side effects, then the "developing countries" are going to be overjoyed to purchase as much of the intellectual property rights protected vaccine as they can afford. The usual method of marketing/pricing is to first charge as much as you can, and then to slowly lower the price until you have extracted every available dollar, and then, when the price reaches a point where you can't make a profit on it - stop making it.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

The mRNA vaccines are not expensive medications but not cheep either.

The government pays $19.50 for a dose of Pfizer vaccine and $15 a dose for the Moderna vaccine.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine costs $ 10 per dose.

Corbevax is expected to cost only about $1.50 per dose, since its supplies are cheap and easily accessible.

Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

For low-income countries, the less-expensive, easier-to-make Corbevax could prove a godsend.

www.texasmonthly.com

It doesn't work that way.

If the cheapest competitive medication retails for $10, then the market price would be $9.50.

 

[Patriotic Voter]

Do you think they might be able to convince Texans to take it? After all, it is Made in Texas, so they should be able to trust it, yes?

Texans refuse to get vaccinated not because of money (remember nobody pays for covid shots) but because their stupid governor actively campaigns against them. Greg Abbott will do anything to fight vaccine requirements statewide. These researchers are only able to do it b3cause their goal is to send doses out to other continents. Sad, but true.

 

[Patriotic Voter]

I tend to agree; however, FDA approval is not needed where this could be used most: third world countries who can't afford the fancy stuff we are making.

We are not making any fancy stuff. Both mRNA vaccines were invented in Europe and shipped to North America.

As for getting it approved, that is up to the World Health Organization and United Nations.

 

[Patriotic Voter]

Not if the GOP has their way.

Republicans can't prevent shipments of vaccines to Africa and South America.

 

[madman]

Republicans can't prevent shipments of vaccines to Africa and South America.

i wouldnt put it past them

 

[Patriotic Voter]

i wouldn't put it past them

What can they do to stop it?

 

[minnie616]

It doesn't work that way.

If the cheapest competitive medication retails for $10, then the market price would be $9.50.

I am not saying how it works.

I posted what the US government is currently paying the vaccine companies per dose for the 3 vaccines we contracted with.


Then I quoted what the article mentioned what the cost of ( not what the would be ) the new vaccine was that was manufactured.

……..

Here is the full paragraph from the article:
…..
“
Corbevax is expected to cost only about $1.50 per dose, since its supplies are cheap and easily accessible. Another advantage of Corbevax is its familiarity, for those still uneasy about newer vaccine technologies or their side effects. Recombinant protein vaccines cause far fewer reactions and have been proven safe for young children and pregnant women for many years. (The hepatitis B vaccine has the fewest side effects of nearly any routinely recommended vaccine.)”

Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

For low-income countries, the less-expensive, easier-to-make Corbevax could prove a godsend.

www.texasmonthly.com

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

What can they do to stop it?

The same thing that Messers Trump and Biden did - issue an EO prohibiting the export of either the drugs themselves or the technology needed to manufacture the drugs because of an "urgent national priority".

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

I am not saying how it works.

I posted what the US government is currently paying the vaccine companies per dose for the 3 vaccines we contracted with.


Then I quoted what the article mentioned what the cost of ( not what the would be ) the new vaccine was that was manufactured.

……..

Here is the full paragraph from the article:
…..
“
Corbevax is expected to cost only about $1.50 per dose, since its supplies are cheap and easily accessible. Another advantage of Corbevax is its familiarity, for those still uneasy about newer vaccine technologies or their side effects. Recombinant protein vaccines cause far fewer reactions and have been proven safe for young children and pregnant women for many years. (The hepatitis B vaccine has the fewest side effects of nearly any routinely recommended vaccine.)”

Can This Houston-Born COVID Vaccine Save the Developing World?

For low-income countries, the less-expensive, easier-to-make Corbevax could prove a godsend.

www.texasmonthly.com

"Cost to manufacture" and "retail price" DO have a relation to each other.

The lower the "cost to manufacture" that an enterprise can manage and the higher the "retail price" that an enterprise can command mean that the enterprise can enjoy a whacking great profit margin.

Do you REALLY think that it costs $310,000 to manufacture a cell phone? (Yes, there IS a cell phone on the market that retails for that much. [In fact there are some that cost a whole lot more.]) More realistically, do you really think that it costs around 10 times more to manufacture a Samsung Galaxy A12 than it does to manufacture a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G 256GB?

 

[Patriotic Voter]

The same thing that Messers Trump and Biden did - issue an EO prohibiting the export of either the drugs themselves or the technology needed to manufacture the drugs because of an "urgent national priority."

Nope, that is obviously impossible.

 

[Gaius46]

Not if the GOP has their way.

Ending the pandemic is much more than just vaccinating Americans. Most new strains and so far afaik all the ones that have proliferated came from places with much lower vaccination rates than the US. It’s in our own self interest to insure that the rest of the world gets vaccinate, which is why btw I’m on the fence about the boosters.

 

[madman]

Ending the pandemic is much more than just vaccinating Americans. Most new strains and so far afaik all the ones that have proliferated came from places with much lower vaccination rates than the US. It’s in our own self interest to insure that the rest of the world gets vaccinate, which is why btw I’m on the fence about the boosters.

and i hope the GOP agrees with this (in bold)

why would one be "on the fence" regarding boosters? I mean, if science says it would help attenuate covid cases, then how can that be a bad thing?

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

Nope, that is obviously impossible.

Not in the least "impossible".

 

[minnie616]

"Cost to manufacture" and "retail price" DO have a relation to each other.

The lower the "cost to manufacture" that an enterprise can manage and the higher the "retail price" that an enterprise can command mean that the enterprise can enjoy a whacking great profit margin.

Do you REALLY think that it costs $310,000 to manufacture a cell phone? (Yes, there IS a cell phone on the market that retails for that much. [In fact there are some that cost a whole lot more.]) More realistically, do you really think that it costs around 10 times more to manufacture a Samsung Galaxy A12 than it does to manufacture a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G 256GB?

You are thinking about the USA but it will not be manufactured in the US

We already have 3 very effective vaccines for the US population.



It will be manufactured in an BioE lab in India for India.

From wiki:

Biological E Limited (also known as BioE) is an Indian biotechnology and biopharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad, Telangana. It specialises in the areas of low-cost vaccine production.

From the following:

Yahoo Search - Web Search

The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.

in.news.yahoo.com

Named Corbevax, Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine is currently in final phase of clinical trials. According to report, one dose of Corbevax is likely to cost Rs 250. COVID-19 Vaccine in India: Centre Signs Deal With Biological-E For 2nd Made-In-India Vaccine; Check List Of Other Vaccines That May Roll Out Soon.