$1m for Covax-19 vaccine work

By : Krishna Anindyo | Thursday, September 03 2020 - 16:05 IWST

Vaccine Covax-19
Vaccine Covax-19

INDUSTRY.co.id - The Australian Government is backing efforts by vaccination biotech company Vaxine Pty Ltd to find an effective vaccination for COVID-19.

The $1 million grant is one of 13 early stage biomedical projects to receive funding through the Federal Government’s Biomedical Translation Bridge (BTB) program, part of Australia’s landmark Medical Research Future Fund.

“Thanks to our unique ability to run computer simulations on the virus before it is even fully characterised, we were able to dramatically speed up the ability to design our Covax-19 vaccine," says Flinders University Professor Nikolai Petrovsky, Research Director of Vaxine.

The Vaxine research team used this computer modelling on the virus spike protein to rapidly design a synthetic COVID-19 vaccine.

“The vaccine based on the synthetic spike protein was then manufactured in insect cell cultures before being combined with our Vaxine Advax adjuvant, which is used to turbocharge the vaccine and make it more effective,” Professor Petrvosky says.

The Vaxine team was able to design, manufacture and advance Covax-19® into human trials in under five months in a process that normally would take up to 15 years, he says.

“The next step will be to undertake a large international Phase 3 clinical trial to confirm its ability to protect against COVID-19 infection ahead of possible commercial sales.”

As well as further development of the Covax-19 vaccine candidate in South Australia, the $10.4 million Federal Government funding rounds will assist other projects including a new treatment for respiratory complications of COVID-19, a preventive nasal spray, and a rapid response test to predict how severely the disease will progress.

Industry partners have contributed a further $28 million to the 13 projects, leading to a total $38.4 million of new investment in the biomedical sector. The BTB is a four year $22.3 million MRFF program, operated by MTPConnect.

News Comment

Today's Industry

 Huawei ICT Competition 2022–2023 Global Final Closing and Awarding Ceremony (Photo: Huawei)

Jumat, 02 Juni 2023 - 17:40 WIB

Huawei ICT Competition 2022-2023 Global Final Held in Shenzhen — 146 Teams from 36 Countries and Regions Win Awards

The Huawei ICT Competition 2022-2023 Global Final concluded in Shenzhen, drawing to a close the seventh installment of this competition.

CleverTap logo

Jumat, 02 Juni 2023 - 15:50 WIB

CleverTap launches local deployment of its SaaS platform in Indonesia

CleverTap, the leading global B2B SaaS platform for customer engagement and retention, has made its platform available within Indonesia through data centers hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS),…

President Jokowi inaugurated the 2nd Kretek Bridge, in Bantul, DI Yogyakarta, Friday (02/06/2023). (Photo: BPMI Setpres)

Jumat, 02 Juni 2023 - 15:10 WIB

Inaugurated by the President, the Kretek 2 Bridge Strengthens the Java Southern Route

RI President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the Kretek 2 Bridge, Friday (02/06/2023) morning, in Bantul Regency, DI Yogyakarta. This bridge will support the Southern Cross Road (JJLS) which…

President Jokowi led the Pancasila Harlah Commemoration ceremony, which was held in the National Monument Area, Jakarta, Thursday (01/06/2023). (Photo: Public Relations of Setkab/Oji)

Jumat, 02 Juni 2023 - 14:00 WIB

President Jokowi: Pancasila is the Foundation of Indonesia's Success in Facing Global Challenges

In the midst of the global crisis, Indonesia is one of the few countries that has succeeded in maintaining economic, social and political stability as well as controlling inflation, growing…

Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia (Photo: Public Relations of Setkab/Rahmat)

Jumat, 02 Juni 2023 - 13:30 WIB

President Encourages Acceleration of Electric Battery Ecosystem Development

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encourages the acceleration of investment realization for the development of the electric car battery ecosystem which will be carried out in the Bantaeng…