The teams of Chen Wei and Zhong Nanshan have deployed new vaccine research and development

The first press conference of theNational Two Sessions in 2021 mentioned vaccine research and development.

In addition to being "hot", vaccines also need to be "new".

Recently, a reporter from Science and Technology Daily learned during the two sessions that the team of Academician Chen Wei and Academician Zhong Nanshan have separately deployed the research and development of new vaccines.

Cross-border "fusion"!

National Nano Center and Academician Chen Wei's Team Collaborate on New Vaccine Vectors

The National Nano Center team is cooperating with the team of Academician Chen Wei of the Academy of Military Sciences to develop new vaccine nanocarriers!

March 3, the CPPCC National Committee , China Ke Xueyuan academician , director of the National Center for Nano Science and Technology Daily in an interview with Zhao Yuliang interview revealed that the relevant cooperation was started last year, is currently in an orderly way.

"In terms of nanoparticle as a carrier, China's basic research is at the forefront of the world.

Some transformative new technologies have changed many areas, including vaccine development.

For example, the mRNA new coronavirus vaccine that has entered emergency use abroad is to bring the RNA that stimulates antibodies in the body into the body through artificial nano "egg shells" (liposomal nanoparticle LNPs).

The cooperation between theNational Nano Center and the team of Academician Chen Wei is based on the previous research foundation of the two parties, and it hits it off.

"We have accumulated more than ten years of research in the application of nanotechnology to drug delivery vehicles.

The team of Academician Chen Wei has been approved for the conditional listing of the new coronavirus vaccine, using adenovirus vector technology, and the Ebola virus vaccine that has been approved for marketing also uses this technology.

"In the past, there were blind spots between disciplines, for example, they did not know each other’s technology or research progress.

Full chain innovation!

Academician Zhong Nanshan's team of new crown mRNA vaccine research and development is included in the national science and technology plan

Just last Saturday, the Chinese Academy of Engineering academician , the director of the National Center for Disease Clinical Research Respiratory organization Zhong Nanshan, China Kexue Yuan Biomedicine and Health Research Institute researcher Guangzhou, Guangzhou Rui Bo founder Zhang Biliang biological research and development for the Chinese vaccine makers A project report on the development and production of the new crown mRNA vaccine was carried out.

The same is an mRNA vaccine.

With this advantage of "breaking the limits of the industry", the development and production of the new coronavirus mRNA vaccine (with Zhang Biliang as the project leader) has become a sub-project of the research project led by Academician Zhong Nanshan , and has been included in the fourth batch of the Ministry of Science and Technology's new coronary pneumonia key research and development plan.

"We have our own patented technology.

Compared with drugs, vaccines are used by ordinary people, and the safety requirements of the carrier are extremely high, and there are more special requirements-let the mRNA be expressed in the body for a short time and efficiently, and "disappear" immediately after the task is completed.

Based on the previous experience in drug carrier research and development, the team developed its own lipid nanoparticles for the new coronavirus vaccine.

The reason why the storage temperature of the new crown mRNA vaccine of Zhang Biliang's team can be greatly increased is also due to its patented lipid nanoparticles.

The design and development of "egg heart" antigen mRNA is Zhang Biliang, who has studied and researched for many years from the Nobel laureate in the RNA field.
The "carving" of molecular-scale RNA modification and three-dimensional conformation manipulation can be said to be easy.

If the advanced nature of the core technology is the "top-of-the-sky" support for a vaccine, then a stable industrialization capability is the key to a vaccine's "stalwart".

Since 2004, Ruibo has provided RNA production services for the research institute.
From synthetic oligonucleotides, RNA to RNA polymerase, the integrity of the entire industrial chain has been established.

"We have the largest mRNA raw material production workshop in China.
" Zhang Biliang told a reporter from Science and Technology Daily that the expression system of RNA polymerase also has independent intellectual property rights and can rapidly expand production.

In terms of mRNA production, the company has also made adequate preparations.
The maximum annual output of the existing plant is sufficient for approximately 100 million vaccine doses.

An mRNA vaccine sounds simple, but there are many links from synthetic raw materials to auxiliary enzymes to preparation production.
To produce a vaccine for the people, any innovation in the entire chain must not be lost.

Speaking of the latest research and development progress, he told a reporter from Science and Technology Daily: "We have completed the preclinical research phases such as animal challenge trials, and are actively moving forward steadily.
"

Undoubtedly, the new crown epidemic has stimulated an unprecedented wave of biomedicine innovation, especially in the field of vaccine research and development, where a large number of scientific research forces, social resources, and financial capital have gathered.
How should China's scientific research field take advantage of the trend?

On the other hand, the development of new vaccines will inevitably lead to an industrial chain starting from scratch.
How to plan and deploy to stay behind in international competition?

The face of these two issues, research and innovation as a leader, Zhong Nanshan, academician , Chen Wei academicians must have a deep, forward thinking, technological innovation leading practice they are under the upper hand in chess!