Premas Biotech, Oramed announce development of oral COVID-19 vaccine candidate

KUALA LUMPUR: Premas Biotech, a developer of novel biotherapeutic and vaccine candidates, has announced the development of an oral COVID-19 vaccine that has shown efficacy after a single dose, in conjunction with Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Accelerating the vaccine's path to market, Premas, Oramed and other shareholders, have formed Oravax Medical Inc which has received exclusive licences from Oramed and Premas to develop oral COVID-19 vaccines.

After a single dose of the Oravax COVID-19 capsule, efficacy was evident through antibody production in a pilot animal study.

According to a statement, clinical trials are expected to commence in the second quarter this year.

Oravax's vaccine promoted both systemic immunity through Immunoglobulin G (IgG), the most common antibody in blood and bodily fluids that protects against viral infections, and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) which protects the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts against infection.

Premas' protein-based Virus Like Particle (VLP) vaccine candidate creates triple protection against the SARS CoV-2 virus Spike, Membrane, and Envelope targets.

It is also safe, efficacious and well tolerated at normal to high doses, and generated high titres of neutralising antibodies.

The VLP is manufactured using Premas' proprietary D-Crypt(TM) platform, which is highly scalable and can be manufactured on large scales. More details at www.premasbiotech.com

-- BERNAMA