The Race for a Vaccine Explained

In the race for a Covid-19 vaccine, there is both extreme urgency and stiff competition. Under normal circumstances, a vaccine can take up to 10 years to get approved but the scope of this outbreak has fueled efforts to accelerate that timeline dramatically. While many obstacles remain and no timeline is certain, several vaccine candidates currently under development may soon be available for emergency use.

Step-by-step approval process

Source: New York Times, World Health Organization, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Center for Biotechnology Information, New England Journal of Medicine

Of course, no vaccine will ever be 100% effective because viruses inherently have a propensity to mutate over time, according to the World Health Organization. Preliminary research reports show that Covid-19 may be similar to the seasonal flu in that new strains may emerge every year, requiring slight modifications to an existing vaccine. Over time, diseases tend to mutate into less aggressive strains as a virus’ main goal is to stay alive longer in its host. If the host dies too quickly, then the virus itself will cease to exist. Some experts believe this could explain why the fatality rate has decreased despite the rising number of cases globally.

At the start of the outbreak, Covid-19 tests were reserved for patients in critical condition who required immediate medical attention. Given that the virus was previously unidentified and highly contagious, the global medical supply chain wasn’t prepared to provide adequate supplies, equipment and testing. Today, the United States is conducting hundreds of thousands of tests daily, many with a turnaround time of a few hours to a few days. That illustrates the progress we’ve made from the limited testing and week-long response times we saw early on.

Hurdles to Clear

As several vaccine candidates approach the final stage of development, there are four potential obstacles:

1. Once approved, there will be overwhelming demand but limited supply.

2. Current supply chains need to be expanded to distribute the vaccine in a timely manner.

3. Temperature controls are required to stabilize the vaccine and maintain its efficacy.

4. The first drug makers to market with a vaccine may reap financial benefits through licensing rights, intellectual property and branding. But the vaccine may not have been sufficiently tested beyond FDA requirements. Meanwhile, vaccines offered later may gain exposure to a larger pool of patients in clinical trials.

A Faster Track

While the typical vaccine research and development process can take up to 10 years, the critical nature of the pandemic has led to attempts to shorten this timeline. Global research efforts began in early January 2020 with the first vaccine trials on humans beginning in March, a process that typically takes three to five years. This acceleration can be attributed to four factors:

• Fast-track regulatory approvals. Vaccine candidates have received emergency regulatory approval to skip years of animal trials in an effort to speed up the process. Some organizations have combined research phases, conducting phase 1 and phase 2 trials simultaneously.

• Innovative vaccine methodology. Advances in bioengineering technology have sped up the time required for genome sequencing and testing. Messenger RNA (mRNA), a new vaccine methodology, gives the body instructions on how to produce disease-specific antibodies on its own.

• Public and private sector support. Global support from the public and private sector has fueled funding for research efforts. The United States launched Operation Warp Speed, which is aimed at accelerating the development, manufacturing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. $10 billion was allocated to this program through various funding programs including the Cares Act.

• Scientists’ familiarity with coronaviruses. Prior knowledge of the coronavirus family has aided scientists in their research efforts. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), more commonly referred to as Covid-19, and SARS—the strain from the 2003 outbreak—are roughly 80% identical in nature, according to several studies. By using existing research, scientists have been able to accelerate discovery related to a potential vaccine.

A Second Shutdown?

Despite the rising global case count, the seven-day daily death moving average has been declining since its peak in April. This encouraging trend can be attributed to the improved availability of tests and more available data to guide patient treatment and care. As the world braces for a highly uncertain winter, it will be important to track how spending more time indoors and the return of flu season might impact virus transmission.

Fortunately, the global response to Covid-19 has been unprecedented, with accelerated research timelines and emergency approval from regulatory agencies to address the virus. With hundreds of candidates currently undergoing trials with several in the later stages, there is hope but by no means certainty, that a vaccine will be approved and widely available in the next six to nine months. Historically, there have been many obstacles that stood in the way of vaccine development, which can slow down the approval process. The need for the global supply chain to distribute a vaccine at scale has forced public and private sectors to come together to best address this issue.

Still, the willingness of the people to receive a vaccination could be a major hurdle. Media reports are highlighting recent polls showing that confidence in the safety of a fast-tracked vaccine is waning. While a vaccine and a potential resurgence of the virus will dominate the headlines, we believe another round of broad-based lockdown measures is unlikely given the deep economic damage they have caused. Ultimately, urgency, competition and collaboration should benefit vaccine research and development.