Nordic Life Science 1
olsten also explains that among the advantages of
BioNTech’s mRNA-based technology is its use of lipid nanoparticles to deliver the genetic-coded vaccine antigen to human cells. The technology platform is efficient and flexible enough to rapidly adjust to the new information that surfaces during an evolving pandemic. “The mRNA vaccines are promising because of their potential for high potency and ability to boost immune responses, engaging several arms of the immune system, such as antibody-producing B cells and anti-viral T-cells,” he continues. “This is different from adenovirus-based vaccines, which traditionally can only be given as a single, likely short-lasting administration, and protein-based vaccines that usually mainly give rise to protective antibodies and less to T-cell immunity.” He also points out that the fact that mRNA in the vaccine candidate is produced synthetically means it can be created much faster than has been done for past vaccines. Besides the vaccine, Pfizer has also been working on an anti-viral candidate to treat COVID-19. Preliminary data suggests that a lead protease inhibitor displays antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The company is preparing for potential human COVID-19 patient studies for IV administration in August or September, provided pre-clinical confirmatory studies are successful. While Pfizer and other companies have been working feverishly to develop a cure and treatments, attempts to contain the disease in many areas have been unsuccessful. “The public health efforts, although significant, have so far not been able to substantially reduce the spread of the disease and a vast number of fatalities have occurred,” says Dolsten. ”Knowing that, and with the number of COVID-19 cases increasing worldwide, a vaccine is likely the only way of eliminating the threat of ongoing pandemics.” In his role as Chief Scientific Officer, Dolsten says it is rewarding to work with the scientists and clinicians who are at the forefront of the research. “Pfizer is collaborating across the healthcare innovation ecosystem, ranging from large pharmaceutical companies to the smallest of biotech companies, from government agencies to academic institutions, to address the COVID-19 global health care crisis,” he says. According to Dolsten, the most challenging aspect of research and development is deciding when to stop a project. “There is always more work scientists want to do,” he says. “I tend to ask them, ‘Convince me there is a key experiment that allows us to make a firm stop or go decision based on clear quantitative criteria.’ If that cannot be defined, often stopping is the best decision.” Mikael Dolsten grew up in Halmstad, Sweden. He began his career as a physician-scientist at Lund “THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM ADENOVIRUS-BASED VACCINES, WHICH TRADITIONALLY CAN ONLY BE GIVEN AS A SINGLE, LIKELY SHORT-LASTING ADMINISTRATION, AND PROTEIN-BASED VACCINES THAT USUALLY MAINLY GIVE RISE TO PROTECTIVE ANTIBODIES AND LESS TO T-CELL IMMUNITY.” NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG 47