Oravax (COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine)

2021: Israel has created the world's first vaccine against COVID-19 in capsules

At the end of July 2021, the company Oramed Pharmaceuticals announced the creation, as it claims, of the world's first vaccine for coronavirus COVID-19 in capsules, which can be taken praorally.

Clinical trials of the drug Oravax will begin at the Suraski Medical Center in Tel Aviv immediately after approval by the local Ministry of Health, which is expected in the next few weeks. The testing will be attended by 24 volunteers who have not yet been vaccinated with another vaccine. Half of the group will take one capsule, the rest will receive two doses of the drug. Research will last six weeks.

The idea is that we want to demonstrate the proof of concept - that it (vaccine) works for people, "said Nadav Kidron, general director of the pharmaceutical company Oramed Pharmaceuticals, where the drug was developed together with Indian Premas Biotech.

Israel unveils world's first vaccine for COVID-19 in capsules

In preclinical trials, the drug was tested against the delta strain, writes The Jerusalem Post. After vaccination, test animals developed antibodies IgG and IgA (creating long-term immunity).

According to Nadav Kidron, this drug has several advantages over conventional coronavirus vaccines. So, the capsule is "more resistant to different strains of coronavirus," unlike Moderna and Pfizer, it targets three structural proteins of the virus. Also, such drugs usually cause fewer side effects.

Kidron also added that such a vaccine is easier to deliver around the world. The CEO of Oramed Pharmaceuticals emphasized that he would seek approval of the capsule vaccine in other countries if the tests were successful. In particular, supplies are planned to countries that are most in need of vaccines, including South America.^[1]

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