The University of Otago, Victoria University and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research will help lead efforts to secure a Covid-19 vaccine for New Zealand as part of newly established Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand.
In May, a $37 million Covid-19 vaccine strategy was announced to ensure New Zealand has access to a safe and effective vaccine at the earliest opportunity.
The Government then allocated $10 million towards local research and development, charging the group with establishing a national Covid-19 vaccine evaluation platform and developing domestic vaccines.
Vaccine Alliance programme director professor Graham Le Gros said this morning the alliance would rapidly progress New Zealand’s capability and capacity to develop a vaccine, working with a range of local and international collaborators.
''We’ll be making use of the abundant expertise and capability across the country and our global links to find the best vaccine options for New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours.''
Prof. Le Gros said the platform would evaluate domestic and international vaccine candidates in pre-clinical models and human trials.
''The aim is to secure access to a safe, effective, scalable Covid-19 vaccine.''
University of Otago associate professor James Ussher, who is the alliance's science director, said the alliance was formed following in-depth discussions with Government as to the best approach to securing a vaccine.
''There are significant advantages of a national development and screening programme.
''Along with the obvious efficiencies, it gives us the scale needed to engage globally – with organisations like CEPI and big pharmaceutical companies – and will help develop local biotech capability to ensure we’re best placed for future pandemics.''
''The programme builds on work already underway following an initial $100,000 investment from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to collaborator Avalia Immunotherapies in April, which allowed local vaccine development to progress.''
Prof Le Gros said the Malaghan Institute was working on a ''recombinant spike protein'' vaccine being developed at Dr Davide Comoletti’s laboratory at Victoria University, an ''inactivated virus'' vaccine in progress in Professor Miguel Quiñones-Mateu’s laboratory at the University of Otago and a ''pan-coronavirus'' vaccine being explored by Avalia Immunotherapies with international collaborators.
''We’re excited by the potential of these candidates, but we’ll be putting them through the same rigorous screening process as we will other home-grown and international vaccine options,'' he said.
''What we’re looking at is an international landscape where Covid-19 vaccines are being developed rapidly for an emergency response, while others – the second generation vaccines – are being designed with our increasing knowledge of immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
'''These are ones, for example, that will provide lasting immunity, protect older and more vulnerable people, and can be scaled up and distributed easily and cheaply.
''At this stage, the more vaccines being researched and developed the better.
''It gives us choices.''