Egypt’s National Research Center (NRC) is in the pre-clinical development phase of four vaccines against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.
In a ministry statement on Thursday, Abdel Ghaffar said the four vaccines are among 132 the World Health Organization (WHO) reports are currently under development against the virus.
The minister indicated that the NRC’s research team developing the vaccines have completed pre-clinical trials for a second type of vaccine, and are currently working to obtain approval for clinical trials.
He also said that the NRC has zoned in on three natural materials that significantly inhibit the virus’ reproduction, and that it is currently preparing the clinical trials on potential drugs.
The ministry statement added that the four vaccines include an inhibitor vaccine consisting of the H1N1 influenza virus and induced pieces of the emerging coronavirus. The second vaccine is an inhibited vaccine for the coronavirus which has been grown on tissue culture.
The third vaccine contains DNA loaded with parts from the coronavirus’ own DNA, representing surface proteins from the virus. The fourth vaccine contains surface proteins from the virus which stimulate an immune system response to produce antibodies in four forms.
