U.S. pharmaceutical companies met and reported progress being made on a vaccine and cure for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to President Donald Trump on Monday.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the meeting held at the White House at the bidding of President Trump, who at a press conference said more cases are likely in the U.S. after the country confirmed death caused by the disease recently.
“I am meeting with the major pharmaceutical companies today at the White House about progress on a vaccine and cure. Progress being made,” Trump had announced.
As the world is putting efforts to find a vaccine or possibly a cure for the dreaded disease, recall that Israel had announced a major breakthrough vaccine against the disease for poultry, and are only three months away from testing the vaccine on humans.
The researchers from Galilee Research Institute claimed that the vaccine they have been developing for the past four years could be modified for use in humans within three months.
Announcing the breakthrough vaccine at a press conference, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Galilee Research Institute, David Zigdon said the vaccine it has been developing for the past four years has similar DNA structure in the virus that had spread from China.
“There is a high urgency around the world to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus in humans, so we are working to expedite the development process and achieve an effective vaccine for the COVID-19 virus over the next 8-10 weeks and move to safety trials [in humans] within 90 days.
“The vaccine developed by us for poultry is administered orally and the human vaccine offered by us is also expected to be administered orally” Zigdon said at the press conference.
The Galilee Research Institute CEO noted that due to the urgent global need for the vaccine, the Institute is working around the clock with potential partners to help accelerate the research process in humans needed to complete the final product development and regulatory process.
Prof. Dan Levanon, founder of Galilee Research Institute said that the duration of the vaccine’s development process is contingent upon health officials’ regulations.
“Under these conditions, where the disease causes enormous damages as it worsens, I believe the regulations will be eased,” Levanon said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Science and Technology, Ofir Akunis has welcomed the researchers’ breakthrough.
“Had [the vaccine] had to be subjected to the usual regulations, it would have taken several years. Of course, without risking human life. I hope and believe there will be further progress soon,” he said at the press conference.
Akunis also instructed the Director of the Ministry to promote any possible collaborations that would expedite the production of the vaccine in humans.