Researchers at the University of Oxford believe they have made a major breakthrough in the development of a coronavirus vaccine.
Human trials are reported to have shown promising results after the team discovered the jab could provide “double protection” against the deadly virus now ravaging the world.
Blood samples taken from volunteers in phase one trials have shown the vaccine stimulated the body to produce antibodies and T-cells, according to a report in The London Daily Telegraph.
T-cells play a central part in the body’s immune response.
A source told the newspaper that the combination “will hopefully keep people safe”.
The vaccine is one of more than 100 in development as the coronaviruscontinues to spread – infecting more than 13 million people and killing at least 582,000.
David Carpenter, chairman of the Berkshire Research Ethics Committee, which approved the Oxford trial, said the vaccine team was “absolutely on track”.
He added: “Nobody can put final dates… things might go wrong but the reality is that by working with a big pharma company, that vaccine could be fairly widely available around September and that is the sort of target they are working on.”
The vaccine development is being supported by the UK government and AstraZeneca.
The pharmaceutical company’s chief executive said last month that phase one trials were due to finish and a phase three trial had begun which will see the vaccine given to thousands of people so it can be tested for efficacy and safety.
The firm has reached agreements to supply around two billion doses worldwide, despite acknowledging that it is not yet certain the vaccine will work.
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