UPMC and scientists from Pitt Health Sciences announced a potential vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic.According to a press release, "when tested in mice, the vaccine, delivered through a fingertip-sized patch, produces antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 at quantities thought to be sufficient for neutralizing the virus."Researchers said they had previous experience with two viruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2.A replay of the press conference is available in the video player below. Click to watch.“We had previous experience on SARS-CoV in 2003 and MERS-CoV in 2014. These two viruses, which are closely related to SARS-CoV-2, teach us that a particular protein, called a spike protein, is important for inducing immunity against the virus. We knew exactly where to fight this new virus,” said co-senior author Andrea Gambotto, M.D., associate professor of surgery at the Pitt School of Medicine. “That’s why it’s important to fund vaccine research. You never know where the next pandemic will come from.”Compared to the experimental mRNA vaccine candidate that just entered clinical trials, the vaccine developed at Pitt "follows a more established approach, using lab-made pieces of viral protein to build immunity," which is the same way the flu shot works. Last month, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 got a look at Pitt’s vaccine lab as researchers began redirecting all of the work inside of their secure facility on campus to focus solely on COVID-19. (Click below to watch that report.)At that time, researchers were estimating at least a year to 18 months to develop the vaccine and go through the trials to make sure it would be safe.Production of a potential vaccine would also take time.

UPMC and scientists from Pitt Health Sciences announced a potential vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a press release, "when tested in mice, the vaccine, delivered through a fingertip-sized patch, produces antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 at quantities thought to be sufficient for neutralizing the virus."


Researchers said they had previous experience with two viruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2.

A replay of the press conference is available in the video player below. Click to watch.

“We had previous experience on SARS-CoV in 2003 and MERS-CoV in 2014. These two viruses, which are closely related to SARS-CoV-2, teach us that a particular protein, called a spike protein, is important for inducing immunity against the virus. We knew exactly where to fight this new virus,” said co-senior author Andrea Gambotto, M.D., associate professor of surgery at the Pitt School of Medicine. “That’s why it’s important to fund vaccine research. You never know where the next pandemic will come from.”

Compared to the experimental mRNA vaccine candidate that just entered clinical trials, the vaccine developed at Pitt "follows a more established approach, using lab-made pieces of viral protein to build immunity," which is the same way the flu shot works.

Last month, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 got a look at Pitt’s vaccine lab as researchers began redirecting all of the work inside of their secure facility on campus to focus solely on COVID-19. (Click below to watch that report.)

At that time, researchers were estimating at least a year to 18 months to develop the vaccine and go through the trials to make sure it would be safe.

Production of a potential vaccine would also take time.