UFMG starts human trials of the first Brazilian vaccine against Covid

SpiN-Tec, the first vaccine against Covid-19 produced with entirely Brazilian technology, began testing this Friday (25) on humans by UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais), the institution responsible for developing the vaccine.

Research for the production of the vaccine began in November 2020. The expectation is that SpiN-Tec will be a “pancoronavirus”, that is, that it will be able to defend the body against all variants of the disease. The arrival on the market should occur in 2024.

“We include a protein in the vaccine that does not change from variant to variant. Therefore, our expectation is that the vaccine is ‘pancoronavirus’, recognizing the different variants”, explained researcher from the Institute of Biological Sciences at UFMG Ricardo Gazzinelli, one of the responsible for the development of SpinN-Tec.

The announcement of the tests on humans took place at the Faculty of Medicine of the UFMG, in Belo Horizonte. The first volunteer to receive the dose of the vaccine at this stage of immunization development was a master’s student in microbiology at the university João Vítor Rodrigues Pessoa Carvalho, 24.

“I believe it is my duty as a citizen”, said the student, to justify his participation in the volunteer program. The dose was administered by the secretary of Research and Scientific Training at the MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation), Marcelo Morales.

Before testing in humans, the vaccine underwent pre-clinical tests carried out in the laboratory and in animals. According to UFMG, in the previous stages there was confirmation of the effectiveness and safety of the immunizer.

The stage involving testing on humans will be carried out in three phases. The first, started this Friday, will have 72 volunteers. The second, 360. All are from Belo Horizonte. The third phase will have the participation of 4,000 to 5,000 volunteers from all over Brazil, with authorization from Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency).

The financing of the vaccine relies on resources from the MCTI, Fapemig (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais) and the Municipality of Belo Horizonte. The total amount is approximately BRL 500 million for all stages of immunizer development. “Science needs financial support”, said the dean of UFMG, Sandra Regina Goulart Almeida.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Paulo Alvim, participated in the announcement of the start of immunizer tests on humans. “It is a Brazilian vaccine, made by Brazilians and that will reach the market by Brazilians”, he said. Former minister Marcos Pontes, elected senator for São Paulo, was also at the UFMG Faculty of Medicine for the announcement of the tests on humans.