Omicron: China speeds up research into vaccines and tests amid progress on recombinant spike protein

Name: Why is the Omicron variant so concerning? Virologist warns Covid strain could ‘wreak havoc’ in HK
Uploaded: 2021-12-03T06:30:44.000Z
Duration: 6 min 14 s
Description: Why is the Omicron variant so concerning? Virologist warns Covid strain could ‘wreak havoc’ in HK

Sino Biological announces it has developed a recombinant key part of the ‘variant of concern’ that could be used to test vaccines and antibodies

‘Our aim is to be prepared, but not necessarily use [new vaccines against variants] unless the existing vaccine is completely ineffective’: NHC official

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A resident gets tested for Covid-19 in Erenhot, in the northern Inner Mongolia region, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Zhuang Pinghui

Published: 2:30pm, 3 Dec 2021Updated: 3:51pm, 3 Dec 2021

China is accelerating research into vaccines and tests to cope with possible future Omicron variant outbreaks amid global concern about its potential damage.

Sino Biological, a Beijing-based company specialising in recombinant protein production, antibody development and the manufacture of test reagents, announced on Thursday it had developed a key part of the recombinant spike protein of the Omicron variant that could be used to test the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines and antibodies.

Most approved Covid-19 vaccines train the immune system to recognise the spike protein of the coronavirus, which the virus uses to infect human cells by binding to the ACE2 receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2).

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Why is the Omicron variant so concerning? Virologist warns Covid strain could ‘wreak havoc’ in HK

However, the Omicron variant has more than 30 mutations in the spike protein, including 10 in one particular part called the receptor-binding domain (RBD) that docks to the ACE2 receptor, prompting concerns that the structure change might help it dodge the immunity developed by vaccines or past infection.

Sino Biological said the company had finished molecular construction, cell culture, protein purification and quality checks in six days. It said it had successfully produced reagents of the spike protein RBD for the Omicron variant on Monday and they were available for market.

The company said reagents for other proteins of the variant would be launched soon.

Mainland China has not detected any Omicron cases yet but health authorities have been on high alert and are preparing for the variant to emerge.

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