Saskatoon research into coronavirus vaccine: An update

Saskatoon-based researchers are making progress in the development of a coronavirus vaccine.

The University of Saskatchewan’s VIDO-Intervac began work in January following the discovery of the virus in Wuhan, China.

At that time coronavirus was blamed for 17 deaths; it’s now believed to have killed more than 400 people mainly in China.

Dr. Volker Gerdts, CEO and director of VIDO-Intervac, provided a progress update on Tuesday.

He said frozen samples of the virus were being shipped to Saskatoon from a Winnipeg lab to help vaccine development, a process that has rigorous safety regulations.

“(There are) specific requirements around the containers. They have to be layered, so multiple containers within each other. They have to be unbreakable. There are rules around it,” he explained. “There is really no risk in the shipment.”

Gerdts is optimistic they’ll be able to begin testing the vaccine on animals soon.

“We hope to have something within the next 2 1/2 weeks,” he said.

Researchers at VIDO-Intervac work with different pathogens including the flu and other respiratory illnesses.

Gerdts said those are often deadly as well, but coronavirus may feel different to the general public.

“People are worried about it. There’s a fear factor — it’s a new disease,” he said.