Policy opportunities to enhance sharing for pandemic research

Rourke, Michelle; Eccleston-Turner, Mark; Phelan, Alexandra; Gostin, Lawrence O.

doi:10.1126/science.abb9342

Cited by 33 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…An effective vaccine that is too complex to make in bulk, is difficult to formulate, is highly unstable without refrigeration or freezing, is difficult to administer, or that requires too many doses over a prolonged period may represent a Pyrrhic victory for science but not the answer to the problems faced by the societies that science serves. The complexities of developing a vaccine at ultrashort notice are best tackled by the melding of minds irrespective of wherever the bodies are geographically located ( 173 , 174 ). Will this happen?…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Vaccines: “Warp Speed” Needs Mind Melds, Not Warped Minds

Moore

Klasse

2020

J Virol

134

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In this review, we address issues that relate to the rapid “Warp Speed” development of vaccines to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. We review the antibody response that is triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection of humans, and how it may inform vaccine research. The isolation and properties of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies from COVID-19 patients provide additional information on what vaccines should try to elicit. The nature and longevity of the antibody response to coronaviruses are relevant to the potency and duration of vaccine-induced immunity. We summarize the immunogenicity of leading vaccine candidates tested to date in animals and humans, and discuss the outcome and interpretation of virus-challenge experiments in animals. By far the most immunogenic vaccine candidates for antibody responses are recombinant proteins, which are not included in the initial wave of “Warp Speed” immunogens. A substantial concern for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is adverse events, which we review by considering what was seen in studies of SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV vaccines. We conclude by outlining the possible outcomes of the “Warp Speed” vaccine program, which range from the hoped-for rapid success to a catastrophic adverse influence on vaccine uptake generally.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Vaccines: “Warp Speed” Needs Mind Melds, Not Warped Minds

Moore

Klasse

2020

J Virol

134

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“…For example, open exchanges of clinical data, biological samples, genetic sequence data, modelling parameters and assumptions and epidemiological data support evidence-based policymaking around reopening schools and economies, forecasting demand for healthcare services and equitable allocation of scarce resources. [28][29][30][31] BMJ Global Health Given the demonstrated importance of transparency in coordinating effective multilateral responses to pandemic threats, the GHS Index also prioritises publicly available evidence of relevant capacities. Thus, countries without publicly documented evidence of these capacities receive lower scores.…”

Section: Transparency and Integration With The Jeementioning

confidence: 99%

The value proposition of the Global Health Security Index

et al. 2020

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Infectious disease outbreaks pose major threats to human health and security. Countries with robust capacities for preventing, detecting and responding to outbreaks can avert many of the social, political, economic and health system costs of such crises. The Global Health Security Index (GHS Index)—the first comprehensive assessment and benchmarking of health security and related capabilities across 195 countries—recently found that no country is sufficiently prepared for epidemics or pandemics. The GHS Index can help health security stakeholders identify areas of weakness, as well as opportunities to collaborate across sectors, collectively strengthen health systems and achieve shared public health goals. Some scholars have recently offered constructive critiques of the GHS Index’s approach to scoring and ranking countries; its weighting of select indicators; its emphasis on transparency; its focus on biosecurity and biosafety capacities; and divergence between select country scores and corresponding COVID-19-associated caseloads, morbidity, and mortality. Here, we (1) describe the practical value of the GHS Index; (2) present potential use cases to help policymakers and practitioners maximise the utility of the tool; (3) discuss the importance of scoring and ranking; (4) describe the robust methodology underpinning country scores and ranks; (5) highlight the GHS Index’s emphasis on transparency and (6) articulate caveats for users wishing to use GHS Index data in health security research, policymaking and practice.

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“…On 10 January 2020, scientists from China uploaded the first genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 that was shared with the WHO two days later. The early availability of the genetic sequence allowed laboratories around the world to start developing diagnostic test kits and launch research on antiviral drugs and vaccines [ 16 ]. Since then, thousands of SARS-CoV-2 sequences from around the world have been uploaded to online databases, such as GenBank and the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).…”

Section: Open Access To Designs and Patentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since then, thousands of SARS-CoV-2 sequences from around the world have been uploaded to online databases, such as GenBank and the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). These genetic sequences have helped to track the spread of SARS-CoV-2, determine successful containment strategies, and monitor the occurrence of viral adaptive mutations [ 16 ]. In spite of several national and international research groups that are currently working intensively on their development to prevent and treat COVID-19, vaccines are not yet available.…”

Section: Open Access To Designs and Patentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomedical Science to Tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic: Current Status and Future Perspectives

et al. 2020

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The coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) pandemic emerged at the end of 2019, and was caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has resulted in an unprecedented health and economic crisis worldwide. One key aspect, compared to other recent pandemics, is the level of urgency, which has started a race for finding adequate answers. Solutions for efficient prevention approaches, rapid, reliable, and high throughput diagnostics, monitoring, and safe therapies are needed. Research across the world has been directed to fight against COVID-19. Biomedical science has been presented as a possible area for combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus due to the unique challenges raised by the pandemic, as reported by epidemiologists, immunologists, and medical doctors, including COVID-19’s survival, symptoms, protein surface composition, and infection mechanisms. While the current knowledge about the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still limited, various (old and new) biomedical approaches have been developed and tested. Here, we review the current status and future perspectives of biomedical science in the context of COVID-19, including nanotechnology, prevention through vaccine engineering, diagnostic, monitoring, and therapy. This review is aimed at discussing the current impact of biomedical science in healthcare for the management of COVID-19, as well as some challenges to be addressed.

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Policy opportunities to enhance sharing for pandemic research

Abstract: COVID-19 reveals gaps in international law that can inhibit timely sharing of information, samples, and sequences

Cited by 33 publications

References 7 publications

COVID-19 Vaccines: “Warp Speed” Needs Mind Melds, Not Warped Minds

COVID-19 Vaccines: “Warp Speed” Needs Mind Melds, Not Warped Minds

The value proposition of the Global Health Security Index

Biomedical Science to Tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic: Current Status and Future Perspectives

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