A different kind of coronavirus vaccine is being developed by Israeli-American Oramed Pharmaceuticals and India-based Premas Biotech. The vaccine or drug which is called Oravax can be swallowed like a pill and administered at home.
The drug, Oravax would begin clinical trials after the developers reported encouraging preliminary data. Both Israeli-American Oramed Pharmaceuticals and India Based Premas Biotech teamed up to create Oravax Medical Inc., with hopes of combining Oramed’s oral delivery technology with Premas’ vaccine expertise to create a new method of vaccination against Covid-19.
The agency stated that a pilot study done on animals found oral vaccine helped create antibodies, giving them immunity against the virus. Results show that administering the Oravax drug requires taking one dose, unlike others that require two doses.
Prabuddha Kundu, the co-founder of Premas Biotech, told Indian media that administering the vaccine would be ‘like taking a vitamin pill and that ‘we are more than 100% sure that the technology works and is promising.
The results of the first animal experiment will soon be published in a scientific journal.
CEO, Oramed, Nadav Kidron told the Jerusalem Post that the oral vaccine would eliminate functional barriers from vaccination around the world and that people could also take these pills from the comfort of their homes.
The oral vaccine or drug can be kept at refrigerator temperature and even at room temperature, which alleviates some of the problems with some traditional vaccines that need to be frozen before use. Kidron said that oral administration of the vaccine could cause fewer side effects.
Kidron also explained that the capsules would be particularly useful if Covid-19 vaccines were eventually recommended to administered every year.
Oravax Medical is currently seeking human testing in various countries, including the United States, Israel, Mexico, and Europe. Studies can start in July.
