Nordic Life Science 1
This transmission electron microscope image shows
SARS-CoV-2 isolated from a patient in the U.S. Virus particles (round gold objects) are shown emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. Image captured and colorized at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana. Elen Høeg, Policy manager, CEPI accines for emerging diseases lack incentives. Development usually takes 10–15 years and millions of dollars. Few candidates reach market and demand is uncertain. In addition, phase 3 testing requires large numbers of people at risk and can occur only during an outbreak. CEPI helps advance candidate vaccines through phase 1 or 2 so they are ready for phase 3 trials when possible. CEPI supports standardized, “antigen-agnostic, plugand-play” platforms for manufacturing and distributing vaccines, Høeg says. Similar to the way annual flu vaccines are made, these platforms could be activated as soon as the sequence of a new virus is known. Working at CEPI in 2020, Høeg says, is “an interesting journey.” As soon as SARS-CoV-2 was identified, CEPI contacted partners doing relevant research and quickly set up new academic and industry partnerships on COVID-19 vaccines. As the disease spread, organizations merged efforts. CEPI is now part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator with partners such as the Gavi vaccine alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust. The ACT Accelerator launched in April from the World Health Organization to focus on COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. To join this work, leaders of small and large companies and academic and research institutes are welcome to reach out to CEPI and respond to calls for proposals and expressions of interest, Høeg says. “Everyone needs to step up during this crisis,” she says. “The whole world is collaborating on a COVID-19 vaccine and partnership is the key to success.” NLS 69 PHOTO HOFF FOTOGRAFEN/CEPI PHOTO NIAID-RML