A strong message emerging out of the COVID-19 crisis, is that we all play a role in fighting its spread -- if we #StayAtHome, we can flatten the curve. As we shut down, or 'cocoon', as they’re saying in Ireland, the world of medical science is going into overdrive.
The University of Queensland (UQ) is leading Australia’s effort to develop a vaccine. Professor Paul Young is the Head of School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at UQ, and told The Feed they are working around the clock.
“We feel the pressure of the world, I think there is a great degree of expectation,” Prof Young said.
This week on The Case we’ll look at the three ways our researchers are tackling this pandemic. We’ll find out if there’s such a thing as a medical ‘quick fix’ to get our world back to normal.
Strategy one: A new vaccine
Since China sequenced the genome for novel coronavirus back in January, an international race has taken off to develop a vaccine. A frontrunner in the US is already testing an option on humans, giving 45 people two injections, 28 days apart to see how they respond.
The US company Moderna might be leading the race for a vaccine, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says at least 20 other vaccines are under development across the world. The number could actually be as high as 60 according to some sources.
Before you rush to your pharmacy to pre-order your vaccination, experts say a vaccine is still about 18 months away from being available.
“Normally a vaccine takes many years and most vaccines we use have taken 10, 15 or even more years to develop”, Prof Young said.
As much as we might want to fast track this process in the face of the coronavirus, developing a vaccine is no simple feat. The annual flu shot, for instance, needs thousands of chicken eggs a day to produce.
The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t rely on chickens (or their eggs), but it’s still a complex process.
“What we [would] do in terms of large scale manufacturing is actually grow [human] cells in large vats a bit like a beer fermenter,” Prof Young said.
“So we have 500 litre, 2000 litre fermenters of cells that are all expressing this protein.”
The truth is, getting a vaccine out in 12 to 18 months is actually incredibly fast.
“If we go flat out and accelerate we might get to that point,” he said.
Their efforts went viral after Prof Young wrote this note to some primary school students who wanted to donate $100 to their research.
Source: Supplied
This is just one example of how Prof Young has been touched by the community in this time of supposed social distancing and isolation.
“Last night we received from a school…a PDF message which was a collection of thank you cards which the children had drawn and put together,” he said.
“So we are going to print all those out and put them up in the lab just to keep the inspiration going.”
Strategy two: repurposing existing drugs
New vaccines still have to go through a series of safety tests, there are treatments already on the market experts hope could work against COVID-19.
WHO has launched a worldwide trial to test four treatments, including a combination of anti-malaria medicine, a drug originally developed for Ebola and two different combinations of HIV drugs.
A Japanese flu drug has also reportedly helped those infected with mild symptoms, and US scientists have flagged 69 drugs they think are suitable to test.
“It is a covid research storm,” Prof Young said.
“That’s probably where we have our biggest hope -- there are drugs already out there that have been taken through clinical trials so we know they’re safe.
“We just need to now show or determine whether they have any action against COVID.”
Strategy three: New diagnostic tests
COVID-19 testing is one area where we’ve already seen some notable progress. Soon, as many as 1.5 million on-the-spot finger-prick tests will be distributed around Australia.
This blood test can determine if you’re currently infected with the coronavirus, but also if you’ve already had the virus and developed immunity. The hope is those with immunity could return to work, starting with doctors and nurses.
These technologies still aren’t widely available, and don't speed up recovery for those already infected. Until then, our most immediate fix isn’t a pharmaceutical one.
“I think we’re seeing evidence of that in some other countries,” Prof Young said.
“Singapore and South Korea did a remarkable job without therapies, drugs and vaccines.”
The non-pharmaceuticals
When it comes to COVID-19 there isn’t an easy solution. Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, an advisor to WHO based at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) told The Feed the only quick fix is a vaccine, and that’s not happening anytime quick.
Instead Prof McLaws says the best thing the rest of us can do, is follow the advice experts working tirelessly to develop treatments and vaccines.
“That is strict social distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and trying to prevent more people from becoming cases,” she told The Feed.
“So we don't have to second guess how best to treat them while we’re waiting for a vaccine.”
Prof McLaws says these times of social upheaval could result in some positive changes.
“I think we may have a watershed, where after all of this we may then move into a more socially equitable form of governing,” she said.
“Where we may not, one day, have the haves and the have nots. We may even need to be thinking about a living wage."
The verdict
When it comes to the great achievements of humankind; things like the eradication of smallpox, and sending men to the moon, change doesn't happen overnight.
The same is true for the coronavirus, there is no such thing as a quick medical fix. We all have a role to play in solving this global problem, and the result could be a testament to us all.
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Australians must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
