Covid-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Calls for Cautious Optimism

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine by Gamaleya Research Institute followed suit claiming a staggering 92% effectiveness. It’s reasonable to assume that the timing of Sputnik V press release by Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) came as response to Pfizer-BioNTech’s announcement.

Claims of 90% or 92% effectiveness are really good given the 50% efficacy bar by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). As mentioned by Matthew Herper, senior writer for medicine at STAT - a US-based health news site - expert projections of Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness was around 60% - 70%.

Therefore, these claimed efficacies are better than what most had expected.

Nevertheless, more tests will be needed to strengthen these claims.

According to respective press releases, Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine interim analysis involved 94 confirmed Covid-19 cases from amongst trial participants, while Sputnik V involved only 20.

However, the efficacy rate may change for both vaccines as the respective clinical trials continue.

Referring to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, health and science correspondent for BBC News, James Gallagher mentioned the absence of full clinical trial results which have yet to be published in medical journals to be peer-reviewed - which could also be the case with Sputnik V according RDIF press release.

Effectiveness is an important criterion, but it is one of many others.

Gallagher raised a similar concern as EMIR Research by alluding to immunity retainment as the ‘biggest question’, and that it may take a long time to be elucidated.

High-efficacy vaccines can still be undermined by short retainment of immunity - complicating vaccination efforts, and further pressuring the already-stretched supply chains for new batches faster than expected. Chinese authorities have reportedly lowered the immunity retainment bar to 6 months.

Immunity retainment, any potential long-term side effects, and long-term safety of novel adjuvants (vaccine mixture compounds), if any, need a longer time to be determined. RDIF press release alludes to the ability to provide “long-term immune response after the second injection”.

Pfizer is perhaps more prudent to not make such claims yet, and mentioned that participants will continue to be monitored for an additional two years after the second dose, while the RDIF press release indicated only six months.

It is worth noting however, that unlike Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Sputnik V has been given emergency use ‘authorisation mechanism’ to allow it to be administered to high-risk groups. Success may confer a real-world data advantage over competitors, despite being an arguably risky move.

If Malaysia would call for emergency use of such vaccines - and therefore taking a higher risk than in normal circumstances - it is imperative to also conduct a similar monitoring on the Malaysia population to determine parameters such as immunity retainment, safety, efficacy, and efficiency.

It is also important to note that the unprecedented speed by which vaccines are being developed.

It has been nearly one year in the Covid-19 pandemic, and already we have vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials with above 90% effectiveness, with both Pfizer-BioNTech and Sputnik V vaccines claiming no serious safety or adverse concerns thus far.

According to World Economic Forum senior writer Douglas Broom, vaccine discovery to approval, in general, can take about ten years. This is attributed to the nature of the entire scientific process that is naturally time consuming, resource intensive, and is subject to stringent requirements set by regulatory bodies for approval.

High failure rate is also typical in vaccine development - about 93% of vaccine candidates fail from the stage of animal testing to successful vaccine registration, as mentioned by Jerome Kim, director-general of the International Vaccine Institute when speaking to CNBC.

Understandably, there may be concerns of lucrative market prospects and/or geopolitics pressuring parties to cut corners. Therefore, thorough assessment by local authorities is crucial despite pressures of socio-economy and geopolitics.

Of course, new technologies and vast resources have undoubtedly sped up the process. Nevertheless, the fact is that Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is novel, never approved before, and haven’t been tested for very long.

On the other hand, Sputnik V vaccine is claimed to be based on a “well-studied human adenoviral vector platform”. Cautious optimism is reasonable for both vaccines.

Also, how much of the demographics tested in the clinical trials of both vaccines are relevant, and therefore, can be extrapolated to Malaysia population?

Long-term effects for novel vaccines are a relatively much bigger unknown as this is not yet sufficiently established in the Pfizer-BioNTech Phase 3 trials that started on July 27.

RDIF press release alludes to higher levels technology familiarity, track record, and therefore, safety of the human adenoviral vector platform.

Needless to say, this has to be backed up more with more cases, full trial reports and longer tests.

In any case, EMIR Research noted previously that these metrices and uncertainties are likely to be reflected in prices and various legal wordings in contracts, especially ‘advanced purchase’ ones.

So Malaysian authorities must review these carefully, regardless of public sentiment.

Relatedly, Malaysia also has no experience for production and related supply chain experience for any Covid-19 vaccine candidates, as it would have if Malaysia participated in producing doses needed for clinical trials. Understandably, the concern may be higher for the more novel types of vaccines.

As for logistical challenges, EMIR Research has previously highlighted that according to Fierce Pharma (US-based pharmaceutical industry news portal) associate editor Kyle Blankenship, Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was was reported to require temperatures of -70 degrees Celsius for longer-term storage and at refrigerated temperatures for up to two days.

Such operating parameters may limit vaccination to be conducted at sites with specialised equipment, by trained personnel and for a very limited duration per vaccination event.

BBC News referred to a similar concern mentioning “massive manufacturing and logistical challenges in immunising huge numbers of people, as the vaccine has to be kept in ultra-cold storage at - 80Cº”. According to the STAT, Pfizer is confident in the manageability of these issues.

Should Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine be one of Malaysia’s choice, the country may require ultra-cold chains in handling the movement and storage of such vaccines and properly trained personnel - especially in nation-wide vaccination efforts.

As reported by Reuters, this could present a significant challenge for regions where a combination of high temperatures and insufficient infrastructure (such as in Asia) can make it difficult to maintain the cold chain when moving vaccines.

Comparatively, Fierce Pharma also mentioned other types of vaccines by other companies that may be held for months at refrigerated temperatures, and mentioned Moderna – another company pursuing mRNA vaccine – as reportedly requiring -20 degrees Celsius for storage.

If so, this may confer a logistical advantage. This could be similar to Sputnik V’s “no higher than -18 degrees Celsius” storage requirement as alluded to by author Kostadin Fikiin in EURACTIVE, a European Union news and policy debate portal.

More results are expected by the end of this year and in the first quarter of 2021, which should provide more insights on the performance of these vaccines. Therefore, before putting all bets on one vaccine, thorough comparative assessment between different vaccines should be conducted.

Nevertheless, findings thus far from Pfizer-BioNTech and Gamaleya Research Institute’s Sputnik V vaccine appear to be big wins for science, a much-needed hope for the people and is a cause for applause – but with cautious optimism, and not yet to shoot fireworks.