Israeli researchers are hoping they can turn a vaccine for poultry into one for humans to fight the coronavirus.
The scientists at the MIGAL Galilee Research Institute said that after four years of work, they have developed a vaccine against avian coronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus. Details of the research were posted to the research institute's website.
The possibility of a vaccine aimed at fighting the current coronavirus outbreak is described as a byproduct of MIGAL's development of the poultry vaccine.
According to MIGAL, researchers learned that the poultry coronavirus has "high genetic similarity" to the human coronavirus.
David Zigdon, CEO of MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, said, "Given the urgent global need for a human coronavirus vaccine, we are doing everything we can to accelerate development. We are currently in intensive discussions with potential partners that can help accelerate the in-human trials phase and expedite the completion final product development and regulatory activities."
Zigdon said researchers are hoping they can develop an oral vaccine in the next eight to 10 weeks.
Israeli's Minister of Science and Technology Ofir Akunis has instructed government officials to fast-track all approval processes in hopes of developing a vaccine.
Johnson & Johnson said late last month it is working on developing a vaccine for the coronavirus utilizing the same technologies used to make its experimental Ebola vaccine.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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