Southern Research collaborating on COVID-19 vaccine tests – AL.com

Birminghams Southern Research is collaborating with a company to study responses to the virus that causes COVID-19 as part of a broader program to develop a vaccine.

Southern Research, an independent nonprofit scientific research organization, announced today an expansion of an existing collaboration with Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. The two back in February began developing and conducting testing of Tonixs TNX-1800, a potential vaccine designed to protect against COVID-19. Results from this testing are expected in the fourth quarter of this year, followed by human trials.

In addition, the two groups will focus specifically on T cell immune responses by volunteers who have recovered from the disease or who remain asymptomatic after exposure to COVID-19. T cells are a central part of the immune system. Raj Kalkeri, a senior scientist with Southern Researchs Infectious Disease Research Group, said the most successful vaccines mimic how the immune system responds to an invader.

By collecting data from recovered or asymptomatic volunteers, researchers hope to provide the same type of protection for those who take the vaccine as those who have actually recovered from COVID-19.

Tonix CEO and President Seth Lederman said TNX-1800 is designed to elicit a predominant T cell response, along with some antibody response. Three other early candidates in the companys vaccine portfolio are designed to elicit an almost pure T cell response.

We are looking forward to a timely completion of this study, utilizing readouts from a variety of assays that can provide information about TH1 or other types of immunity, Kalkeri said.

As of today, more than 15 million people have been infected with COVID-19, with more than 618,000 deaths.

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Southern Research collaborating on COVID-19 vaccine tests - AL.com