Brazil on Friday announced its first nationally manufactured vaccine, Butanvac, developed by the state-run Butantán Institute and is awaiting authorization from regulators to begin testing in humans immediately, according to Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria.
“It is a historic announcement for the world. The 100% national vaccine, with promising tests and the fruit of the work of a 120-year-old institution that is the largest vaccine manufacturer in the southern hemisphere,” Doria told a news conference. at the headquarters of the state laboratory in Sao Paulo.
Earlier, on her Twitter profile, Doria had anticipated the news in a video released after the meeting with the director of the Butantán Institute, Dimas Covas, which lasted until dawn.
“We have spectacular news, which fills us with hope in terms of health, science and life. The result of the work of scientists in Butantán over several months of dedication and which we will present to the scientific community in Brazil and internationally, “said Doria.
Covas said in the same video that the development of the pure Brazilian vaccine is “an excellent contribution and will make a difference during the epidemic and help us fight it around the world.”
The Butantán Institute is currently packaging and developing the production of the Coronavac vaccine from the Chinese laboratory Sinovac, which serves 90% of vaccination in Brazil. The other 10% are with the immunizer from the Anglo-Swedish pharmacist AstraZeneca and the British University of Oxford.
The same institution conducts clinical trials in Brazil, authorized by the regulatory body, to test a serum made from a virus inactivated by radiation and applied to horses, which produces IgG antibodies and whose blood has been extracted and purified using a technique used and for decades.
THE SAME TECHNOLOGY OF THE FLU VACCINE
At Friday’s press conference, Covas explained that the “new vaccine” will be developed from the “same technology” used for the flu immunizer, used for decades by that immune center.
“There is no vaccine produced in embryonic eggs in the world and it will cost much less than those used,” said Covas, who indicated that Vietnam and Thailand also participate in the immunizer consortium, countries in which they will be performed. clinical trials in humans.
“Our commitment is to provide this vaccine to low- and middle-income countries, which is where we need to fight the pandemic. The pandemic could be controlled in North America and Europe, but the virus will continue in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, “added Covas, who did not detail the costs of the project.
Without “interfering” with the process and the Coronavac program, Doria pointed out, the Butantán Institute already has a production capacity of 160 million a year, with different types of vaccines, but in May we will be able to produce 40 million again. and we hope to start applying it in the second half of this year. “
“The request to Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency, regulatory authority) will be immediate, with a sense of urgency and respect for millions of Brazilians and we will send today (Friday) to the World Health Organization (WHO) documentation to accompany this process in all its phases “, Doria underlined.
The new immunizer, according to the state laboratory, is already considering its effectiveness in covid-19 variants, such as the Amazonian discovered in the South American giant.
“It’s a vaccine primarily for Brazilians, but later we will serve other sister and friendly nations, such as those in Latin America, the two technological allies we have and those who want it,” Doria said.