WEBVTT - How Could COVID-19 Vaccines Change the World? 0:00:01.920 --> 0:00:06.480 Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of iHeart Radio, Hey 0:00:06.519 --> 0:00:10.719 brain Stuff, Lauren bog Obam. Here, a medical breakthrough that 0:00:10.760 --> 0:00:14.280 could save thousands of lives and effectively quashed the deadliest 0:00:14.280 --> 0:00:17.440 pandemic in more than a century is eminent, it seems, 0:00:17.880 --> 0:00:22.040 a vaccine for COVID nineteen and all it took to 0:00:22.079 --> 0:00:26.040 reach this point, besides the incalculable pain and suffering of 0:00:26.079 --> 0:00:29.560 millions of people worldwide, was the talent of a veritable 0:00:29.640 --> 0:00:32.080 army of scientists, a push in the back, and some 0:00:32.159 --> 0:00:35.120 crafty maneuvering by the U. S. Government, a good idea 0:00:35.159 --> 0:00:39.440 that wouldn't go away, and billions and billions and billions 0:00:39.600 --> 0:00:45.040 of dollars. We spoke with Jim Richardson, the Senior Scientifical 0:00:45.040 --> 0:00:48.360 Liaison at U S Pharmacopeia, a two hundred year old 0:00:48.360 --> 0:00:52.960 scientific nonprofit that establishes federally enforced quality standards for, among 0:00:53.000 --> 0:00:57.760 other products, vaccines. He said, the amount of resources that 0:00:57.800 --> 0:01:01.400 are being applied to this is just up sedented. Millions 0:01:01.400 --> 0:01:03.720 of dollars have never been in such a short time 0:01:03.840 --> 0:01:06.840 applied to a problem of this magnitude, even with H 0:01:06.920 --> 0:01:08.880 one and one and other things that have happened over 0:01:08.920 --> 0:01:11.920 the years. This has really spurred a lot of a 0:01:12.040 --> 0:01:14.600 variety of different platforms that people have been working on 0:01:14.720 --> 0:01:20.119 for a long time. Dozens of companies, using several different 0:01:20.120 --> 0:01:23.760 scientific methods have been gobbling up those government dollars and 0:01:23.880 --> 0:01:26.360 quite a bit of private capital too, in order to 0:01:26.440 --> 0:01:30.440 create a vaccine to stop the coronavirus that's behind this pandemic. 0:01:31.160 --> 0:01:35.080 It's obviously important work. The virus that causes COVID nineteen 0:01:35.120 --> 0:01:37.679 has infected more than fifty six million people in the 0:01:37.720 --> 0:01:41.000 world and killed more than one point three million. It's 0:01:41.000 --> 0:01:43.680 responsible for more than two hundred and fifty thousand deaths 0:01:43.680 --> 0:01:48.200 in the U s alone. Two of the companies in particular, 0:01:48.360 --> 0:01:51.040 that are trying to create a COVID nineteen vaccine have 0:01:51.080 --> 0:01:53.960 stood out from the competition by employing a bold and 0:01:54.120 --> 0:01:58.520 still unproven process. But this time it just might work. 0:02:00.440 --> 0:02:04.440 Before the coronavirus that causes COVID nineteen reared its spiky 0:02:04.520 --> 0:02:08.480 head early in twenty twenty, creating vaccines was a painstaking, 0:02:08.760 --> 0:02:12.120 years long process. The Mum's vaccine was rolled out in 0:02:12.200 --> 0:02:15.920 nineteen sixty seven in what's considered the fastest implementation in history. 0:02:16.440 --> 0:02:21.400 It took four years. The vaccine for this coronavirus, which 0:02:21.480 --> 0:02:25.560 is officially called the Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome Coronavirus two 0:02:25.680 --> 0:02:29.120 or STARS cove too, is on a much much faster 0:02:29.240 --> 0:02:33.840 track for a few reasons. First, because scientists have sena 0:02:33.919 --> 0:02:37.160 virus like this one before the Star's outbreak in two 0:02:37.200 --> 0:02:40.200 thousand three that infected more than eight thousand people worldwide 0:02:40.240 --> 0:02:43.520 and killed nearly eight hundred. The current virus, as it 0:02:43.560 --> 0:02:46.760 turns out, is eighty percent identical in genetic material to 0:02:46.800 --> 0:02:50.640 the one from two thousand three, so all researchers needed 0:02:50.680 --> 0:02:53.040 this time was to see how this virus was different 0:02:53.160 --> 0:02:56.640 from the last one. The Chinese scientists who discovered the 0:02:56.680 --> 0:03:00.640 current virus back in January mapped its genomes almost immediately 0:03:00.919 --> 0:03:03.720 and provided everyone with a text file of its complete 0:03:03.760 --> 0:03:08.720 set of DNA. Secondly, the pair of companies leading the 0:03:08.800 --> 0:03:11.800 raise for a vaccine, Maderna, which is in partnership with 0:03:11.840 --> 0:03:14.760 the National Institutes of Health, and Visor, which is working 0:03:14.760 --> 0:03:17.920 with a German film bioin Tech, finally seemed to have 0:03:17.960 --> 0:03:21.359 perfected a once dismissed idea for a vaccine to attack 0:03:21.400 --> 0:03:25.280 the virus. This new method of making a vaccine and 0:03:25.320 --> 0:03:28.160 more on that in a moment is simply much quicker 0:03:28.200 --> 0:03:33.120 than the old one. And thirdly, well, those billions and 0:03:33.160 --> 0:03:38.280 billions of dollars certainly lit a fire. To understand these 0:03:38.320 --> 0:03:41.680 new vaccines, it helps to first understand the old ones. 0:03:42.400 --> 0:03:46.480 Traditional vaccines typically use a weekend or attenuated form of 0:03:46.520 --> 0:03:50.320 the offending virus to nudge along a person's natural ability 0:03:50.360 --> 0:03:54.640 to combat microbes. The dead virus is injected into the body, 0:03:55.000 --> 0:03:57.280 the immune system learns what it looks like and how 0:03:57.320 --> 0:04:00.360 to fight it, and so when the real virus tax 0:04:00.680 --> 0:04:03.520 in best case scenarios, our bodies are ready for it 0:04:03.640 --> 0:04:07.800 because they already have the antibodies to fight it. Maderna 0:04:07.840 --> 0:04:12.560 and Fiser are using something different called synthetic messenger ribonucleic 0:04:12.600 --> 0:04:16.880 acid or synthetic mRNA instead of a virus to do 0:04:16.960 --> 0:04:20.560 the same thing. Push our bodies into producing antibodies to 0:04:20.600 --> 0:04:24.200 attack and neutralize the coronavirus before it can hook onto 0:04:24.200 --> 0:04:28.839 healthy cells and make us sick. Potentially, it's game changing, 0:04:29.240 --> 0:04:32.560 life saving, but let's break it down a bit more. 0:04:33.839 --> 0:04:37.960 You've probably heard of DNA, that double helix molecule found 0:04:37.960 --> 0:04:42.400 in every cell that contains your unique genetic code, but 0:04:42.920 --> 0:04:46.279 mRNA as its name flat out states it's a kind 0:04:46.320 --> 0:04:49.440 of messenger that carries bits of genetic code from cells 0:04:49.520 --> 0:04:53.320 nucleus out to the cells ribosomes, which use that code 0:04:53.480 --> 0:04:59.240 to create proteins. Paula Cannon, an associate professor of microbiology 0:04:59.320 --> 0:05:02.760 at the Universe Southern California's Tech School of Medicine, put 0:05:02.760 --> 0:05:06.680 it well when she told NBC News, if DNA is 0:05:06.720 --> 0:05:10.440 the big instruction manual for the cell, then messenger RNA 0:05:10.880 --> 0:05:13.479 is like when you photocopy just one page that you 0:05:13.520 --> 0:05:18.480 need and take that into your workshop. So here's how 0:05:18.520 --> 0:05:23.240 an m RNA vaccine works. The scientists target the spikes 0:05:23.240 --> 0:05:26.760 on the coronavirus, which are actually proteins that enable it 0:05:26.800 --> 0:05:29.839 to latch onto healthy cells. And by the way, it's 0:05:29.880 --> 0:05:34.880 called the coronavirus because these spiky protrusions look like coronas 0:05:34.880 --> 0:05:39.440 something that suggests a halo or a crown. The synthetic 0:05:39.680 --> 0:05:42.760 mRNA in the new vaccine carries the code for the 0:05:42.839 --> 0:05:46.720 spiky protein. When introduced into a healthy body, the m 0:05:46.800 --> 0:05:49.719 RNA takes this code and joins up with the protein 0:05:49.760 --> 0:05:54.440 making ribosomes in cells to manufacture the spiky proteins that 0:05:54.520 --> 0:05:59.320 prompts our bodies to produce antibodies to destroy these strange proteins, 0:05:59.360 --> 0:06:03.520 including when they come attached to a real invading coronavirus. 0:06:04.600 --> 0:06:08.160 Without their spikes, the coronavirus can't live and reproduce, so 0:06:08.520 --> 0:06:12.600 end of story. The advantages of the m r and 0:06:12.680 --> 0:06:16.240 A method are many. On the business end, it's cheaper 0:06:16.320 --> 0:06:18.560 to produce a bunch of m RNA strands than it 0:06:18.640 --> 0:06:21.000 is to grow a bunch of viruses, then kill them off, 0:06:21.040 --> 0:06:24.440 and then build a vaccine around them without all those 0:06:24.600 --> 0:06:29.360 labor intensive and time meeting steps. It's faster too. On 0:06:29.400 --> 0:06:32.800 the health side, m RNA is probably less dangerous than 0:06:33.040 --> 0:06:36.520 dosing people with even a manageable amount of even a 0:06:36.520 --> 0:06:40.839 weekend or dead virus, and best of all, according to 0:06:40.960 --> 0:06:46.360 latest data, it may be more effective. The disadvantages, well, 0:06:46.520 --> 0:06:49.760 there are some. The biggest is that it's never been 0:06:49.800 --> 0:06:53.919 done before. mRNA technology, although it's been around for at 0:06:53.960 --> 0:06:56.159 least a couple of decades, has never been used in 0:06:56.160 --> 0:06:59.640 a vaccine, so it's got a lot of proving to do. 0:07:01.120 --> 0:07:04.200 Late stage testing on Maderna's and Viser's work as of 0:07:04.240 --> 0:07:09.160 early December twenty has been exceedingly promising. Both the fiser 0:07:09.320 --> 0:07:14.600 and Maderna m RNA vaccines have proved better than nine effective. Maderna, 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:18.120 which enrolled thirty thousand adult participants in the United States, 0:07:18.160 --> 0:07:21.080 reported the just eleven of the hundred ninety six total 0:07:21.120 --> 0:07:24.440 COVID nineteen cases in their study occurred among the vaccinated. 0:07:24.800 --> 0:07:28.960 The other five infections occurred in the placebo group. That 0:07:29.000 --> 0:07:32.040 equates to a ninety four point one percent efficacy rate. 0:07:32.600 --> 0:07:36.240 And Furthermore, none of the infected patients who had received 0:07:36.280 --> 0:07:40.840 the vaccine developed severe symptoms. Viser saw similar results in 0:07:40.880 --> 0:07:44.920 its Phase three trial. In the trials, the vaccines also 0:07:44.960 --> 0:07:48.040 seemed to do more than simply ward off COVID nineteen. 0:07:48.760 --> 0:07:51.720 They've shown that they may reduce the rate of infection too, 0:07:52.440 --> 0:07:54.920 keeping those with the virus from spreading it to others 0:07:54.960 --> 0:07:59.320 around them. Both companies are expected to apply for something 0:07:59.360 --> 0:08:02.200 called an IMMER Agency Use Authorization from the US Food 0:08:02.200 --> 0:08:05.800 and Drug Administration. If granted, they'll ramp up production on 0:08:05.840 --> 0:08:09.920 the vaccines, still testing as they go. If everything goes right, 0:08:10.040 --> 0:08:12.840 the general public might have access to these vaccines by 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:18.800 the middle of but hurdles do remain. Manufacturing must increase 0:08:18.840 --> 0:08:22.640 at levels never before attempted, Shipping and storing these m 0:08:22.760 --> 0:08:26.720 RNA vaccines must be ironed out. The Fiser m RNA 0:08:26.840 --> 0:08:29.720 vaccine requires it to be stored at negative ninety four 0:08:29.760 --> 0:08:34.040 degrees fahrenheit that's negative thirty four celsius and degrades after 0:08:34.080 --> 0:08:39.000 about five days. The temperatures of just above freezing. Maderna's 0:08:39.040 --> 0:08:41.760 supposedly can be stored at thirty six to forty six 0:08:41.800 --> 0:08:44.760 degrees fahrenheit that's two to eight degrees celsius for up 0:08:44.760 --> 0:08:47.880 to thirty days and remain stable at negative four fahrenheit 0:08:48.040 --> 0:08:52.000 or negative twenties celsius for up to six months. Most 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:55.000 vaccine candidates now in the late stage trials take two 0:08:55.040 --> 0:08:57.560 doses to be effective, so that has to be planned 0:08:57.559 --> 0:09:01.559 for two and determining who was first in line, what 0:09:01.640 --> 0:09:05.040 countries in which people within those countries is still being 0:09:05.040 --> 0:09:09.080 worked out. In the meantime, other companies are deep in 0:09:09.160 --> 0:09:12.960 research and development, using both m RNA and more traditional 0:09:12.960 --> 0:09:16.920 methods to bring vaccines to market. Some fifty four vaccines 0:09:16.960 --> 0:09:19.080 are in clinical trials and humans, according to The New 0:09:19.160 --> 0:09:22.440 York Times, and at least seven are in pre clinical 0:09:22.480 --> 0:09:27.520 trials and animals. Richardson said the m RNA methods now 0:09:27.559 --> 0:09:30.480 that we have the efficacy numbers are now in the lead, 0:09:30.960 --> 0:09:33.600 but there are many different candidates. There will likely be 0:09:33.800 --> 0:09:37.640 multiple vaccines. They're licensed and available to the public. Who 0:09:37.640 --> 0:09:39.840 knows what the landscape will be In a year. We 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:42.240 may have five or six more to choose from, just 0:09:42.360 --> 0:09:45.600 like flu vaccines, and because you need so much, you 0:09:45.640 --> 0:09:51.680 need multiple manufacturers. The pace has been breathtaking. Faced with 0:09:51.720 --> 0:09:54.599 one of the deadliest outbreaks of disease in many lifetimes, 0:09:54.800 --> 0:09:57.679 the government and private sector have joined forces to come 0:09:57.760 --> 0:10:01.080 up with a possible answer in record time, and what 0:10:01.120 --> 0:10:03.240 we've learned may help us handle the next virus that 0:10:03.280 --> 0:10:08.079 comes along. Richardson explained the speed, the number of vaccine development, 0:10:08.120 --> 0:10:12.200 corollary effects, bioprocessing, knowing how to scale up, the coordination 0:10:12.280 --> 0:10:14.480 with the regulatory bodies like the f d A and 0:10:14.559 --> 0:10:17.960 other organizations around the world. I think those will pay 0:10:18.040 --> 0:10:26.240 benefits for years to come. Today's episode was written by 0:10:26.280 --> 0:10:28.800 John Donovan and produced by Tyler Klang. For more in 0:10:28.880 --> 0:10:31.640 this amounts of other topics, visit house toffworks dot com. 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:34.560 Brain Stuff is production of iHeart Radio. Or more podcasts 0:10:34.600 --> 0:10:37.560 in my heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 0:10:37.640 --> 0:10:39.480 or wherever you listen to your favorite shows,