[Germany Today] Can Tuberculosis Vaccines Prevent Corona-19 Infection?

The Development Status of VPM1002 Vaccines by German Research Teams

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), a vaccine made from bovine tuberculosis bacteria that have completely eliminated toxicity, is a vaccine used primarily against tuberculosis. BCG tuberculosis vaccines began in 1921 and have been administered more than 4 million doses to date. The BCG vaccine, also listed on the WHO list of essential medicines, is the only one approved for tuberculosis to date.

Currently, research is underway around the world to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus. However, experts believe it will take at least about a year. This is because the developed vaccine can only be inoculated to people if it proves effective and safe to prevent the coronary virus.

Therefore, it is also one way to demonstrate the effectiveness of drugs or vaccines already developed for faster Corona virus overcoming. This could greatly help relieve the burden of the medical system until a vaccine exclusively for coronavirus was developed.

"When the coronavirus first began to spread and the crisis broke out, some scientists studied whether BCG vaccinations were at low risk for the coronavirus in mandatory countries," said Dr. Steffan Kauffmann, an infectious biologist who heads Max-Planck-Institut für Infektionsbiologie. In other words, we studied the incidence and mortality of corona viruses in one country and in another country where BCG vaccinations were done. There were many difficulties with the research. We couldn't confirm that BCG vaccinations were mandatory in many countries," he said, noting that there were considerable difficulties in interpreting these studies and that considerable prudence was required.

Dr. Stefan Kaufman said, "However, studies have shown that BCG vaccines can actually cause extensive respiratory immunity, preventing serious diseases resulting from infections of other viral respiratory pathogens. Therefore, BCG vaccines can be used to stimulate birth immunity and to establish a defense system against viral respiratory pathogen infections. The new vaccine, VPM1002 vaccine, works similarly. Thanks to this, I think the VPM1002 vaccine is hopeful to overcome the coronavirus."

The VPM1002 vaccine was developed by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Infectious Biology. It was made through some genetic modification of the BCG vaccine and is a new vaccine that is more effective and safer. They are currently testing how effective the vaccine is to prevent infection of the coronavirus.

Dr. Stefan Kaufman said, "Research has shown that VPM1002 vaccine can boost the immune system and significantly reduce infections of respiratory viruses such as the Corona virus. This can be seen as evidence that the VPM1002 vaccine works not only for tuberculosis but also for other viral infections that affect the respiratory system."

"A vaccine or pathogen always stimulates two types of physical defense. First, congenital and non-specific immunity, called primary immunity or primary response, is the most primitive and universal form of defense mechanism. It can kill pathogens very quickly. Secondly, it's acquired and unique, called secondary or secondary," he said, stressing, "We look forward to ensuring the best possible immune response and best physical defense through the interaction of the two immune responses."

The first obstacle has already been overcome. This is because the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut has already approved VPM1002's three-phase clinical trials for the corona virus. It is being conducted at various German clinics, including the Hanover School of Medicine. In early May, a team led by Professor Christoph Schindler of the Hanover School of Medicine also began a study on whether the new tuberculosis vaccine VMP1002 activates the immune system non-specific.

Scientists in Hanover, who are planning and conducting clinical trials of the VPM1002 vaccine, expressed considerable confidence.

In particular, Dr. Jacobus Bosch of the research team said, "I think the new tuberculosis vaccine VMP1002 is a promising approach. This is because the vaccine improves the body's non-specific immune response and is effective against the coronavirus. But we have to wait for more accurate clinical research. "It's expected to take at least three to six months to get all the exact results."

Meanwhile, Dr. Stefan Kaufman stressed that even if the results of the VPM1002 vaccine were positive, research on the coronal vaccine should continue. However, if this approach is found to be successful, VPM1002 can be produced in large quantities in a short period of time, saving time until an effective COVID-19 vaccine is found. He said he expects to make about 100 to hundreds of millions of vaccines in a short time.

The research and development of VPM1002 vaccine is currently centered around Germany and India. The VPM1002 vaccine has already been approved by the Indian serum laboratory and has completed a production line on it. If the clinical trial of VPM1002 vaccine is successfully completed, it is expected that it will also be used worldwide for tuberculosis in the next few years.