Johnson & Johnson will launch advanced-phase research of COVID-19 treatments in humans this month and, as part of its preparation, the company has tested an experimental vaccine on hamsters - showing some promising results, Reuters reported.
In a preclinical trial Johnson & Johnson said the potential drug prevented the animals from getting seriously sick and they lost less weight. Most importantly, the virus didn't fully enter the lungs or other organs compared with the unvaccinated subjects.
Johnson & Johnson scientists injected a small group of Syrian hamsters with one dose and exposed them to the pathogen four weeks later. The company said the treatment - called Ad26-S.PP - produced counteracting antibodies which it believed were critical to boosting immunity levels against the disease in hamsters.
The preclinical test confirms the company's confidence in its COVID-19 drug experiments, Johnson & Johnson chief scientific officer Paul Stoffels said in a statement.
Johnson & Johnson said the impressive outcome in hamsters would not necessarily mean humans would have the same reaction. But, the drug company plans to kick off the biggest experiment involving 60,000 human subjects for its late-phase tests by the end of September, CNBC said.
The trial will be conducted in 180 locations in the U.S. and at least eight other countries such as South Africa, the Philippines, Chile and Brazil. Johnson & Johnson is one of several biotechnology groups working toward a treatment for COVID-19. Other companies include AstraZeneca, Pfizerand Moderna.
The New Jersey-based group started early-phase human research in the U.S. and Belgium in July after results from a trial in primates indicated its most-promising treatment candidate provided robust protection with just one shot.
Meanwhile, the White House has repeatedly denied the Trump administration was pressuring the Food and Drug Administration to give the green light for a COVID-19 drug before the U.S. presidential polls Nov. 3.
