Yang Xiaoming, chairman of Sinopharm China Biologics: Even if there is a big mutation in the new crown virus, it has the ability to react and respond quickly

Science and Technology Daily reporter Cao Xiuying

"In addition to the ongoing clinical research on the genetically recombinant COVID-19 vaccine, Sinopharm's China Biological COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for registration and emergency use in more than 70 countries and regions, 80 countries have received Chinese biological COVID-19 vaccines aided by China, more than 100 countries have put forward clear needs for use, and vaccination covers 196 countries and other populations, making it the largest domestic vaccination and the most widely used COVID-19 vaccine in the world." On the 27th, Yang Xiaoming, chairman of Sinopharm China Biologics, who participated in the sixth session of the MSTA Series of Lectures, a major demonstration activity of the 2021 National Science and Technology Week sponsored by Science and Technology Daily, and delivered a keynote speech, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from Science and Technology Daily.

Photo: Science and Technology Daily reporter Zhou Weihai

On May 26, the Journal of the American Medical Association, an international medical journal, officially published phase III clinical data of the first COVID-19 inactivated vaccine published by Sinopharm China Biologics.

According to the official website of the National Health Commission, as of May 25, 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps have cumulatively reported vaccinating 546.714 million doses of the new crown virus vaccine.

Yang Xiaoming stressed that vaccination is the most effective means to prevent infectious diseases, and the key to controlling this disease in the end is to rely on vaccines. In the past, we eliminated smallpox through immune means, basically eliminated polio and plague, effectively curbed the spread of whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and other diseases, greatly reduced the mortality rate of newborns, and achieved a significant increase in average life expectancy.

"In the face of the spread of the new crown, we urgently need to strengthen vaccination and build a herd immunity barrier." Wang Huaqing, chief expert of the immunization program of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that to establish an immune barrier in our country, more than 1 billion people may need to be vaccinated against the new crown, and the higher the vaccination rate, the stronger the formation of the immune barrier.

"If everyone can get vaccinated as soon as possible, the sooner we can build an immune barrier and return to normal life as soon as possible." Yang Xiaoming said.

Yang Xiaoming said that Sinopharm China Biologics is also actively exerting its geographical advantages, using its six major biological products institutes in Beijing, Wuhan, Changchun, Lanzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai and Sinopharm Zhongsheng Biotechnology Research Institute to continue to expand production capacity and sub-packaging capacity, and go all out to ensure the production and supply of vaccines and meet the needs of the public for vaccination.

Yang Xiaoming revealed that on April 9, the Chinese Academy of Biological Research Gene Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine received clinical trial approval from the State Drug Administration, and on April 24, the phase I/II clinical trial of the vaccine was launched in Shangqiu, Henan. At present, clinical trials are being carried out in an orderly manner.

He introduced that unlike inactivated vaccines, genetic recombinant protein vaccines are another technical route. It is based on the natural structural characteristics of the new coronavirus spindrocyte protein (S protein) receptor binding region (RBD), using structural biology, computational biology independent design and development, using genetic engineering technology to construct engineered cell lines, recombinant expression of antigen proteins, clear targets, strong pertinence. After immunization, the body can be induced to produce targeted neutralizing antibodies, thereby blocking the binding of the virus to the recipient cells and exerting a protective effect. The technical route of recombinant protein vaccine is mature, suitable for large-scale production, and does not involve live viruses and other infectious materials in the whole process of preparation, and does not need to be carried out in a high-level biosafety environment.

Yang Xiaoming stressed that whether it is an inactivated vaccine, an adenovirus vector vaccine or a recombinant genetic protein vaccine, as long as it proves to be effective, it will help prevent and control the pandemic.

In response to the public's concern about whether the vaccine is really effective against the mutated virus, Yang Xiaoming said that at present, the mutated strains found in the United Kingdom and South Africa are more representative, which poses new challenges to the effectiveness of the new crown vaccine.

Sinopharm China Biologics conducted cross-neutralization tests of more than 10 strains of the new coronavirus, including those found in South Africa and the United Kingdom, after immunization of the serum after the phase II and Phase III clinical trials of Sinopharm China Biologics, and the results showed that these strains had an effective neutralizing effect.

He explained that the variability of the virus will always exist, and humans cannot stop the virus from mutating, but the small mutation of the virus does not affect the antigenicity of the virus, that is, as long as there is no protective antigen mutation, the vaccine will be effective, especially the whole virus inactivated vaccine.

"Sinopharm China Biologics has rich experience in vaccine research and development, and even if there is a big mutation in the new crown virus, we can respond quickly and effectively under the rapid and powerful guidance of the vaccine special class, the Food and Drug Administration and other departments." Yang Xiaoming said.

Editor: Liu Yiyang

Review: Julie