COVID-19: U of S lab develops animal model for COVID vaccine testing
Researchers have determined, through genome analysis, that ferrets are the best species for an animal model.
Article content
The University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) is the first Canadian lab to develop an animal model for COVID-19 vaccine testing.
Researchers have determined, through genome analysis, that ferrets are the best species for creating an animal model, where vaccinated animals are protected and non-vaccinated animals come down with the disease, said VIDO director and CEO Dr. Volker Gerdts.
VIDO is currently in the animal-testing stage.
“About a month from now, we will know whether it works or not,” Gerdts said in an interview on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, VIDO received nearly $1 million to expedite work on COVID-19, part of a $26.7 million research package from the federal government.
The predicted timeline for developing a safe human vaccine is still about a year away, Gerdts said. If the ferret testing is a success, the next step is to develop a clean material that can go into humans for clinical testing before the first phase of human testing can begin.
A new pilot-scale manufacturing facility is being built in-house to make the material. Gerdts said this will expedite the vaccine-testing process because these facilities are usually located in other countries.
“With everything we are trying to do at the moment, and fast-tracking it as quickly as possible, the regulators need to ensure that the safety is not compromised,” he stressed.
VIDO is one of several global groups working on COVID-19 vaccines, and working together to share their results. Gerdts called it a sort of “global race.”
“I don’t mean it in a ‘Hey I want to be the first.’ It’s like, ‘Who can solve this first?’ ” he said.
VIDO began working on a COVID-19 vaccine after the first North American case was reported in January. About a month ago, it was the first Canadian lab to isolate the virus, allowing researchers to grow the virus and use it for animal testing.
Gerdts said VIDO is also exploring alternatives, like antiviral medication, that could fill the void until a vaccine is available.
“The whole purpose of our organization is to tackle these new diseases quickly when they emerge.”
— With files from Zak Vescera
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.