Tag: covid

Categories : COVIDTags :

Key Differences of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein over SARS Ancestor

On By ModernMedia
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New computational simulations of the behaviour of the SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins before they fuse with human cell receptors show that SARS-CoV-2, is in fact more stable and slower changing than SARS-CoV-1 that caused the SARS epidemic in 2003.

Though severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses 1 and 2 (SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2) have striking similarities, why the latter is more transmissible remains unclear.

The spike proteins of each, which bind to host cell angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), otherwise known as the human cell receptor, have been proposed as the reason for their difference in transmissibility. A more detailed understanding of the spike proteins prior to binding could lead to the development of better vaccines and medications.

The new finding, which appears in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, does not necessarily mean that SARS-CoV-2 is more likely to bind to cell receptors, but it does mean that its spike protein has a better chance of effective binding.

“Once it finds the cell receptor and binds to it, the SARS-CoV-2 spike is more likely to stay bound until the rest of the necessary steps are completed for full attachment to the cell and initiation of cell entry,” explained Associate Professor Mahmoud Moradi, of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

To determine differences in conformational behaviour between the two versions of the virus, the researchers performed equilibrium and nonequilibrium simulations of the molecular dynamics of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, leading up to binding with cell angiotensin converting enzyme 2.

Equilibrium simulations allow the models to evolve spontaneously on their own time, while nonequilibrium simulations change according to external input. The former is less biased, but the latter is faster and allows for many more simulations to run. Both methodological approaches provided a consistent picture, independently demonstrating the same conclusion that the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins were more stable.

The models revealed other important findings, namely that the energy barrier associated with activation of SARS-CoV-2 was higher, meaning the binding process happened slowly. Slow activation allows the spike protein to evade human immune response more efficiently, because remaining in an inactive state longer means the virus cannot be attacked by antibodies that target the receptor binding domain.

Researchers understand the importance of the receptor-binding domain (RBD), which viruses use to gain entry to human cells. The team’s modelling confirms the importance of the RBD but also suggest that other domains, such as the N-terminal domain, could play a crucial role in the different binding behaviour of SARS-CoV-1 and -2 spike proteins.

N-terminal domain of a protein is a domain located at the N-terminus or simply the start of the polypeptide chain, as opposed to the C-terminus, which is the end of the chain. Though it is near the receptor-binding domain and is known to be targeted by some antibodies, the function of the N-terminal domain in SARS-CoV-1 and -2 spike proteins is not fully understood. Moradi’s team is the first to find evidence for potential interaction of the N-terminal domain and the receptor binding domain.

“Our study sheds light on the conformational dynamics of the SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins,” Moradi said. “Differences in the dynamic behaviour of these spike proteins almost certainly contribute to differences in transmissibility and infectivity.”

Source: University of Arkansas

Categories : COVIDTags :

Prior COVID Infection Results in Robust Immunity after Vaccination

On By ModernMedia
Vaccine injection
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New research published in the journal JCI Insight shows that immune responses to the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine differ significantly in individuals depending on whether or not they had a prior COVID infection. Notably, those who had COVID before vaccination produced a surge of antibodies after the first dose, with little or no increase seen after the second dose. The opposite pattern was observed in infection-naïve individuals.

“Our study shows that the presence of immune memory induced by prior infection alters the way in which individuals respond to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination,” explained first author Professor Steven G. Kelsen. “The lack of response after the second vaccine dose in previously infected individuals is especially relevant, because it could mean that some people may require only one dose or could potentially skip the booster shot.”

Prof Kelsen and colleagues carried out the study in health care workers, some having previously tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and others never having been infected. The researchers measured levels of neutralising antibodies in blood samples taken at three different time points, including before vaccination and after each vaccine dose. They also performed qualitative assessment for local reactions and systemic symptoms, such as fever, headache, and fatigue, associated with vaccination.

While levels of neutralising antibodies hit their maximum in some people with prior COVID after the first vaccine dose, individuals with no history of infection showed massive responses after the second dose. Those high levels also plummeted quickly, while the COVID group retained longer lasting immunity, despite the lack of response to a second dose. However, prior infection was also linked to more frequent and longer-lasting adverse reactions to the vaccine.

“Previous studies had similarly reported long-lasting immunity and strong immune reactions in COVID patients,” Prof Kelsen said. “We now provide new information on how prior infection interacts with vaccination in terms of measurable immune response and how individuals react to mRNA vaccines based on infection history.”

The next steps for Prof Kelsen and collaborators are to modify their neutralising antibody assay to detect Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. “We also are interested in understanding how long protection from a booster dose of the vaccine lasts,” he said.

Source: EurekAlert!

Categories : COVIDTags :

Some Olfactory Dysfunction in COVID is Due to Swelling

On By ModernMedia
Runny nose and sneezing symptoms
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Olfactory dysfunction in COVID patients is common. Researchers recently searched the medical literature for studies reporting changes in olfactory structures detected through imaging tests of patients with COVID, and found that swelling in nasal passages is responsible for some temporary olfactory dysfunction. Their results in were published in The Laryngoscope.

A recent meta-analysis based on 83 studies provided high-quality evidence of a combined prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in 47.9% of COVID patients. Olfactory dysfunction is diagnosed more commonly among female patients and outpatients.

The researchers observed abnormality in olfactory clefts, which provide a crucial channel for airborne molecules to reach sensory olfactory neurons. The rate of abnormalities was nearly 16-fold higher in patients with COVID and olfactory dysfunction (63%) compared with controls (4%).

“Before this study, most scientists thought that the loss of smell in COVID was mainly due to inflammation and damage to the olfactory nerves. Now, we have compiled evidence from medical imaging that COVID loss of smell is also due to swelling and blockage of the passages in the nose that conduct smells,” said senior author Neville Wei Yang Teo, MRCS, MMed, of Singapore General Hospital.

“We think this is good news for patients who want to recover their sense of smell, since these blockages are expected to resolve with time, while nerve damage in comparison would likely be more difficult to recover from,” added lead author Claire Jing-Wen Tan, of the National University of Singapore. “These findings may not fully account for those who suffer from prolonged olfactory dysfunction, however, and further studies that evaluate patients in this group may provide more information.”

Source: Wiley

Categories : COVIDTags :

20% of South Africans Still Lack Immunity as Fifth Wave Approaches

On By ModernMedia
South African flag with COVID theme
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In an interview with 702, CSIR senior researcher Dr Ridhwaan Suliman warned that 20% of South Africans still do not have any immunity to COVID, either from vaccination or prior infection. Since the start of the pandemic in South Africa, he has been tweeting his graphs of infections and explaining the science to the public.

Explaining the figure, he said: “It’s an extrapolation of recent research studies that show sero-prevalence levels across the country, up to about 80% currently. That means levels of immunity of people having previous infections, so natural immunity, plus acquired immunity through vaccination. So based on the 80% sero-prevalence levels, it means there’s still 20% that are susceptible… and 20% of South Africa’s population leaves 12 million people who don’t have levels of immunity or sero-prevalence currently.”

This number is however greatly increased from a previous survey conducted in January 2021, which reported a 19.1% rate.

https://twitter.com/rid1tweets/status/1506576605556219906

He pointed out that this leave South Africa with a large number of people who are immune-naïve to COVID, who are therefore at risk of more severe consequences such as hospitalisation and death. However, the high levels of immunity means that, as seen in the Omicron wave, outcomes are reduced in severity.

Interviewer Bruce Whitfield asked Dr Suliman his opinion of prospective waves, as evidenced by increasing infections in countries like the US and China, and indeed, his own observations of queues starting to build up outside mobile COVID testing stations.

Dr Suliman replied that although the infections have been driven by the highly transmissible Omicron B.A.2 variant which is also dominant in South Africa, it “hasn’t resulted in a further uptick or resurgence following our fourth wave of the original Omicron strain, and so we’re currently in an ‘inter-wave’ period with low levels of transmission.”

He says that the situation is encouraging, with hospitalisations at their lowest levels seen since before the first wave in May 2020, but that this is still an inter-wave period.

Regarding when the fifth wave would be, Dr Suliman pointed out that each of the previous four waves “have been very cyclical or regular, with three months in between each wave.” Based on this, he said that he expects another wave is likely around the end of April or beginning of May.

However, he said that this should not be looked on with fear “because even with a surge in high levels of infection we do have high levels of population immunity which we hope will continue, and we will have less severe outcomes of hospitalisation and death even with those high levels.”

Source: 702

Categories : COVID Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

COVID Vaccination During Pregnancy Does not Cause Complications

On By ModernMedia
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COVID vaccination during pregnancy is not associated with a higher risk of pregnancy complications, according to a large scale Swedish and Norwegian study published in the journal JAMA.

The study, which comprised almost 160 000 pregnancies, found there to be no increase in the risk of preterm birth, growth retardation, low Apgar scores at birth or the need for neonatal care after vaccination against COVID during pregnancy.

“The results are reassuring and can hopefully make pregnant individuals more willing to get vaccinated,” said co-first author Anne Örtqvist Rosin, researcher at the Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.

Studies have shown that, compared to non-pregnant peers, pregnant women are at risk of serious COVID requiring intensive care with a higher risk of death. Preterm births are also more likely in pregnant women with severe COVID. COVID vaccines have been available in Sweden and Norway since January 2021, and in May 2021 Sweden recommended all pregnant individuals to have a COVID jab, followed in August by Norway.

“We’re still seeing that vaccination rates are lower than in the rest of the population, so it’s likely that there’s some concern about how the vaccines affect the pregnant individual and the foetus,” explained Dr Örtqvist Rosin. “When the vaccines were produced, pregnant women were not included in the large clinical studies, and until now there have been no population-based data about any risk there might be to them.”

The researchers linked Sweden’s Pregnancy Register and Norway’s Medical Birth Register to each country’s vaccination register to obtain data on if and when pregnant individuals were vaccinated and with which vaccine. The study included a total of 157 521 individuals who gave birth between January 2021 and January 2022, of whom 18% had been vaccinated. It was found that vaccinated individuals were at no higher risk than unvaccinated of developing one of the studied complications.

The majority of the pregnant individuals included in the study were vaccinated after week 12 in accordance with current recommendations, and 95% received an mRNA vaccine. This should be factored in when interpreting the results, which were similar for the different mRNA vaccines regardless of whether one or two doses were given. Vaccination during the third trimester and vaccination with the Moderna vaccine was associated with a slightly lower risk of needing neonatal care.

A possible benefit of vaccination during pregnancy is that the antibodies generated pass through the placenta, conferring a certain degree of protection against COVID to the newborn baby.

“We’re now planning to study how long this protection lasts, and if SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination during pregnancy has any other lasting effects on the child’s health,” said joint last author Professor Olof Stephansson at the Karolinska Institutet .

Source: Karolinska Institutet

Categories : COVIDTags :

Home Monitoring of Blood Oxygen Levels Warns of Worsening COVID

On By ModernMedia
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At-home monitoring of blood oxygen levels is a safe way for people with COVID to see if their condition is deteriorating, putting them in need emergency and hospital care, according to new research.

Pulse oximeters are readily available, relatively inexpensive devices. Studies have shown that a drop in blood oxygen levels is a critical indicator that a COVID patient’s health is deteriorating.

The study, published in Lancet Digital Health, carried out the first extensive evidence review of pulse oximetry and its potential in home monitoring for people with COVID.

Thirteen studies involving almost 3000 participants across five countries, were analysed, most of which were carried out during the first pandemic wave.

The investigators found that home oxygen monitoring, with medical guidance, was a safe and effective ‘safety net’ for who were ill with COVID at home, picking up early signs of deterioration and escalating care where necessary, thereby reducing the burden on strained clinical resources.

There was however a note of caution due to the lack of research on darker-skinned patients, in whom oximetry may be less accurate than in lighter-skinned people.

The researchers proposed some key recommendations to help standardise the practice of at-home oximetry for COVID monitoring.

The study makes the recommendation the use of a defined cutoff point in blood oxygen levels (92%), which will enable healthcare professionals to determine when a patient needs to go to hospital for treatment, or whether they can rule out the need for further care at the time.

Dr Ahmed Alboksmaty, Research Associate from the Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: “Throughout the pandemic, concern among the public has shifted from ‘Have I got COVID?’ to ‘If I got COVID, do I need to go to hospital?’. Our study shows that people with COVID can safely keep an eye on their blood oxygen levels at home using pulse oximetry. If their oxygen levels drop below a certain point, then this indicates that they need to seek professional medical care.

“Pulse oximetry is easy to self-use, affordable in cost, widely available, and as we have shown, a useful way to identify health deterioration in COVID patients.”

Some smartphones and mobile apps can also measure blood oxygen levels, which the researchers identify as a potentially widely accessible monitoring tool. However, though some studies have shown similar accuracies to conventional oximeters, the researchers say there is not enough evidence to support their use.

Current knowledge gaps also included insufficient data on whether pulse oximetry can improve the health outlook for patients.

Dr Ana Luisa Neves, Advanced Research Fellow from the Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: “Our research has demonstrated how the use of pulse oximetry in remote patient monitoring could help ease the strains on health systems during the COVID pandemic. However, it’s vital to ensure that the current lack of research in racially and ethnically diverse populations is addressed. It’s therefore critical to provide support to ensure this technology reduces, rather than entrenches, existing health inequalities.”

Source: Imperial College London

Categories : Cardiovascular Disease COVIDTags :

New ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on Cardiovascular Sequelae of COVID

On By ModernMedia
Anatomical model of a human heart
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The American College of Cardiology has issued an expert consensus decision pathway for the evaluation and management of adults with key cardiovascular consequences of COVID. The document discusses myocarditis and other types of myocardial involvement, patient-centred approaches for long COVID and guidance on resumption of exercise following COVID. The clinical guidance was published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

“The best means to diagnose and treat myocarditis and long COVID following SARS-CoV-2 infection continues to evolve,” said Ty Gluckman, MD, MHA, co-chair of the expert consensus decision pathway. “This document attempts to provide key recommendations for how to evaluate and manage adults with these conditions, including guidance for safe return to play for both competitive and non-competitive athletes.”

Myocarditis

Myocarditis is a condition defined by the presence of cardiac symptoms such as chest pain, an elevated cardiac troponin, and abnormal ECG, cardiac imaging and/or cardiac biopsy findings.

Although rare, myocarditis with COVID is more commonly seen in men, and since it is associated with a higher risk of cardiac complications, a proactive management plan should be in place. For mild or moderate myocarditis, hospitalisation is recommended to closely monitor for worsening symptoms, while undergoing follow-up testing and treatment. Patients with severe myocarditis should ideally be hospitalised at appropriately equipped centres.

Myocarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination is also rare and the benefits outweigh the risks. It is most commonly seen in younger males (40.6 cases per million for ages 12–29). Although most cases of myocarditis following COVID mRNA vaccination are mild, it should be diagnosed and treated similarly to myocarditis following COVID infection.

Long COVID

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or long COVID, is reported by up to 10-30% of infected individuals. It is defined by a constellation of new, returning or persistent health problems experienced by individuals four or more weeks after COVID infection. While individuals with this condition may experience wide-ranging symptoms, tachycardia, exercise intolerance, chest pain and shortness of breath represent some of the symptoms that draw increased attention to the cardiovascular system.

The writing committee has proposed two terms to better understand potential aetiologies for those with cardiovascular symptoms:

PASC-CVD, or PASC-Cardiovascular Disease, refers to a broad group of cardiovascular conditions (including myocarditis) that manifest at least four weeks after COVID infection.

PASC-CVS, or PASC-Cardiovascular Syndrome, includes a wide range of cardiovascular symptoms without objective evidence of cardiovascular disease following standard diagnostic testing.

Generally, patients with long COVID and cardiovascular symptoms should undergo evaluation with laboratory tests, ECG, echocardiogram, ambulatory rhythm monitor and/or additional pulmonary testing based on the clinical presentation. Cardiology consultation is recommended for abnormal test results, with additional evaluation based on the suspected clinical condition (eg, myocarditis).

Because multiple factors likely underlie PASC-CVS, evaluation and management may be best driven by the predominant cardiovascular symptom(s). For those with tachycardia and exercise intolerance, increased bedrest and/or a decline in physical activity may trigger cardiovascular deconditioning with progressive worsening of symptoms.

“There appears to be a ‘downward spiral’ for long COVID patients. Fatigue and decreased exercise capacity lead to diminished activity and bedrest, in turn leading to worsening symptoms and decreased quality of life,” said Nicole Bhave, MD, co-chair of the expert consensus decision pathway. “The writing committee recommends a basic cardiopulmonary evaluation performed upfront to determine if further specialty care and formalized medical therapy is needed for these patients.”

For PASC-CVS patients with tachycardia and exercise intolerance, upright exercise (walking or jogging) should be replaced with recumbent or semi-recumbent exercise (rowing, swimming or cycling) to avoid worsening fatigue. Exercise intensity and duration should be low initially, with gradual increases in exercise duration over time. Transition back to upright exercise can be done as  symptoms improve. Additional interventions (increased salt and fluid intake, elevation of the head during sleep, support stockings) and pharmacological treatments (beta-blockers) should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Return to Play

Concerns arose about return to play for athletes after COVID due to observations of cardiac injury among some hospitalised COVID patients, along with uncertainty around cardiovascular sequelae after mild illness. However, data do not show a low prevalence of clinical myocarditis and no increase of cardiac events.

For athletes recovering from COVID with ongoing cardiopulmonary symptoms or those requiring hospitalisation with increased suspicion for cardiac involvement, further evaluation with triad testing (ECG, cardiac troponin and echocardiogram) should be performed. For those with abnormal test results, further evaluation with cardiac MRI should be considered. Individuals diagnosed with clinical myocarditis should abstain from exercise for three to six months.

Cardiac testing is not recommended for asymptomatic individuals following COVID infection. Individuals should abstain from training for three days to ensure that symptoms do not develop. For those with mild or moderate non-cardiopulmonary symptoms (fever, lethargy, muscle aches), training may resume after symptom resolution. For those with remote infection (≥ three months) without ongoing cardiopulmonary symptoms, a gradual increase in exercise is recommended without the need for cardiac testing.

Based on the low prevalence of myocarditis observed in competitive athletes with COVID-19, the authors note that these recommendations can be reasonably applied to high-school athletes (aged ≥ 14 years) along with adult recreational exercise enthusiasts. Future study is needed, however, to better understand how long cardiac abnormalities persist following COVID infection and the role of exercise training in long COVID.

Source: American College of Cardiology

Categories : COVID PaediatricsTags :

Croup – A Previously Unrecognised COVID Complication in Young Children

On By ModernMedia
Parent with a sick child
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With the spread of omicron infections in young children, doctors have observed the rise of a previously unrecognised COVID complication: croup. Published in Pediatrics, physicians at Boston Children’s Hospital reported on 75 children admitted to the emergency department (ED) with croup and COVID.

The children appeared at the ED from from March 1, 2020 through January 15, 2022. Some cases were surprisingly severe, requiring hospitalisation and more medication doses compared to croup caused by other viruses. Just over 80% occurred during the omicron period. The report was published March 8 in a pre-publication in.

“There was a very clear delineation from when omicron became the dominant variant to when we started seeing a rise in the number of croup patients,” said  Ryan Brewster, MD, first author of the report.

Laryngotracheitis, commonly known as croup, is a common respiratory illness in babies and young children. It is marked by a distinctive barking cough and sometimes stridor. It happens when viral infections cause swelling around the upper respiratory tract. In severe cases, including some seen at Boston Children’s, it can dangerously constrict breathing.

COVID studies in animals have found that the omicron strain ‘prefers’ the upper airway more than earlier variants, which mainly targeted the lower respiratory tract. This may account for the sudden appearance of croup during the omicron surge, said Dr Brewster.

In keeping with the general pattern of croup, most of the children with COVID and croup were under two years old, and 72% were boys. Except for one child with a common cold virus, none had a viral infection other than SARS-CoV-2.

Although all the children survived, nine of the 75 children with COVID-associated croup (12%) required hospitalisation and four of them (44%, or 5%of the total) required intensive care. (By comparison, before COVID, fewer than 5% of children with croup were hospitalised, and of those, only 1 to 3% required intubation.)

Overall, 97% of the children were treated with dexamethasone, a steroid. All of those who were hospitalised received racemic epinephrine via nebuliser, which is reserved for moderate or severe cases, as did 29% of children treated in the ED. Those who were hospitalised needed a median of six doses of dexamethasone and 8 nebulised epinephrine treatments to control their symptoms.

“Most cases of croup can be managed in the outpatient setting with dexamethasone and supportive care,” said Dr Brewster. “The relatively high hospitalisation rate and the large number of medication doses our COVID croup patients required suggests that COVID might cause more severe croup compared to other viruses. Further research is needed to determine the best treatment options for these children.”

Source: EurekAlert!

Categories : COVIDTags :

Global COVID Death Toll Likely Three Times Higher than Official Estimates

On By ModernMedia
COVID heat map. Photo by Giacomo Carra on Unsplash

According to an analysis of excess mortality published in The Lancet, COVID’s global death toll could be as much as three times higher than official estimates.

From the start of 2020 to the end of 2021, official estimates of the global deaths directly attributed to COVID-19 5.9 million, however this new estimate puts excess deaths at a staggering 18.2 million.

The highest number of excess deaths were reported for India (4.07 million), more than eight times its 489 000 reported COVID deaths, followed by the U.S. (1.13 million), where the official count reached 824,000 by the end of 2021. According to the study, the excess mortality rate in the US (179.3 per 100 000) was about on par with Brazil (186.9 per 100,000). South Africa’s mortality rate was 293·2 per 100 000, just below the rate for Southern Sub-Saharan Africa (308.6 per 100 000). Sub-Saharan Africa’s mortality rate was 101.6 per 100 000, as a result of significant regional variation.

First author Haidong Wang, PhD, of the University of Washington, said in a statement: “Understanding the true death toll from the pandemic is vital for effective public health decision-making. Studies from several countries including Sweden and the Netherlands, suggest COVID-19 was the direct cause of most excess deaths, but we currently don’t have enough evidence for most locations.”

The massive undertaking derived models using all-cause mortality reports for 74 countries and territories and 266 subnational locations, which included 31 locations in low and middle-income countries. These locations reported all-cause death from 2020-2021, and up to 11 years prior. Excess mortality reports were also obtained for the 9 South African provinces 12 Indian states.

Overall, the global rate of estimated excess mortality from COVID was 120.3 deaths per 100 000. A total of 21 countries exceeded 300 per 100 000, with Bolivia having the highest mortality rate at 734.9 per 100 000. Bulgaria, Eswatini, North Macedonia, and Lesotho had the next highest mortality rates. Iceland had the lowest excess mortality rate (-47.8 per 100 000). Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Taiwan also had negative excess mortality rates.

Behind India and the U.S. for most excess deaths were Russia (1.07 million), Mexico (798 000), Brazil (792 000), Indonesia (736 000), and Pakistan (664 000). These seven countries were noted to account for more than half of the excess deaths globally during the study period.

Changes in mortality rates also reflected the impact of other diseases suppressed by the same measures that limited the spread of COVID. The researchers wrote: “The most compelling evidence to date of a change in cause-specific mortality in the pandemic period is the decrease, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, in flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) deaths seen in the months of January to March, 2021,” they added. “Given the scarce and inconsistent evidence of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on cause-specific deaths, and the extremely scarce high-quality data on causes of death during the pandemic, our excess mortality estimates reflect the full impact of the pandemic on mortality around the world … not just the deaths directly attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection.”

Limitations included different modelling strategies being used to estimate excess mortality rate, and excess mortality rate by week or month was not estimated.

Source: MedPage Today

Categories : COVIDTags :

Aspen to Locally Produce COVID Vaccine ‘Aspenovax’ for the African Continent

On By ModernMedia
Syringe withdrawing from vaccine vial
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In a news release, pharma giant Aspen has announced that it has concluded an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to manufacture an Aspen-branded COVID vaccine, Aspenovax, and to make it available throughout Africa.

This follows on from the November 2021 announcement of an agreement of terms between the two companies. This new agreement will expand the existing technical transfer and manufacturing agreements between the companies.

The agreement will grant Aspen’s South African subsidiary the rights to manufacture finished Aspenovax product from drug substance supplied by J&J. It will also make Aspenovax available to markets in Africa through transactions with designated multilateral organisations and with national governments of member states of the African Union.

Under the agreement, Aspen has secured the necessary intellectual property from Johnson & Johnson for production. There is also a good faith undertaking between the companies to expand the agreement to cover any new versions of the drug substance, such as those developed for new variants or a different formulation for administration as a booster.

The agreement will last through to the end of 2026.

Commenting on this agreement, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa said: “This important agreement on sharing know-how and technologies for the production of COVID vaccines is a huge leap forward towards realising our shared vision for medicines and vaccines to be manufactured on the African soil for the African people. Vaccines are our best way out of this pandemic and local production is an essential recipe for our success.”

Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said: “Even with all the support in the world, none of this would be possible without the competence of our teams at Gqeberha. They knew the weight of a continent’s ambitions rested on their shoulders. They persevered and succeeded in becoming a significant supplier within the Johnson & Johnson network. Aspenovax has become a reality due to the confidence placed in their abilities. They are our African heroes.”