SPIN-TEC, the first covid-19 vaccine developed in full in Brazil, recently has experienced the second of three phases of clinical tests and is closer to reaching the Unified Health System (SUS)
Created by CTVacinas researchers, Research Center of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the immunizer now awaits authorization from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) to start the final stage of tests.
If the schedule follows as expected, the vaccine may be incorporated into the National Immunization Program (PNI) from 2028.
COVID-19 100% Brazilian Vaccine Phase Details
Phase 2 of clinical studies accompanied 320 volunteers for a year and had encouraging results; The tests have shown that SPIN-TEC is safe and capable of stimulating the immune system; Participants were divided into two groups: half received the Brazilian vaccine, while the others took the dose of Pfizer/Biontech, currently used in Brazil; Phase 3, which will evaluate the actual effectiveness of the vaccine in the prevention of severe infections and cases, will be expected to begin in 2026 and involve 5,300 volunteers spread across different regions of the country. The final step should last at least one year due to the operational complexity involved.
According to scientists, this represents not only a logistical and economic gain, but also strategic. “Having a 100% national vaccine means autonomy in public health and less dependence on international agreements,” says Helton Santiago, director of CTVacinas' clinical trials, in a statement.
In addition to technological independence, SPIN-TEC has other advantages. Its production cost is lower and it can be stored at room temperature for up to 15 days – an important differential for distribution in remote areas of the country.
Another relevant point is its innovative formulation. While current immunizers aims exclusively in the spike (s) protein, which suffers frequent mutations, Spin-TEC combines this protein with the n, structural and more stable protein, both fused into a single spin-baptized molecule.
This approach aims to enhance the response of T lymphocytes, immune system cells responsible for combating the virus even when neutralizing antibodies fail.
“Coronavirus variants have dribbled antibodies. Therefore, our strategy focuses on strengthening cellular immunity, which is more efficient in preventing progression to serious forms of the disease,” explains CTVacinas coordinator Ricardo Gazzinelli in the same note.
Spin-TEC also stands out for being a scientific landmark: it is the first vaccine created entirely by a Brazilian institution to advance to this phase of clinical studies.
Gazzinelli emphasizes that the project is facing one of the biggest challenges in national science – the so -called “Valley of Death”, a term used to describe the difficulty of turning academic discoveries into concrete products. “We are showing that it is possible to overcome this barrier and build a solid base for Brazil's vaccination sovereignty,” he says.
The Ministry of Health, for now, continues to depend on the importation of vaccines, such as Pfizer's 57 million doses already acquired for use by 2026.
But with Spin-TEC on the horizon, the country may be about to take an important step towards autonomy in the production of immunizers-not just against COVID-19. It is expected that the accumulated knowledge in this journey will serve as the basis for the development of other Brazilian vaccines in the future.