A COVID-19 vaccine that can be produced locally in low-income and middle-income countries is yielding promising results in early clinical trials, researchers say. Other researchers believe that once the body has been “primed” by mRNA vaccines to recognize and attack the coronavirus, a booster containing purified versions of virus’ spike protein that could be given intranasally would have many advantages.

BlueWillow Biologics demonstrated the safety and immunogenicity in humans of the company’s intranasal technology, which CEO Chad Costley said is the only adjuvanted intranasal platform that is not virus-based.

Codagenix Inc. announced favorable safety and immunogenicity data from a Phase I dose-escalation trial of the company’s single-dose intranasal COVI-VAC vaccine, and London-based pHOXBIO Ltd. reported results from a pivotal phase II/III study of the novel prophylactic nasal spray pHOXWELL.

Bharat Biotech’s intranasal Covid-19 vaccine candidate is expected to enter the Phase II portion of a Phase II/III study within the next few weeks. BBV154 marks the second vaccine against the novel coronavirus developed by the India-based company.

Bharat Biotech’s a two-dose, injectable Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin is authorized in India for ages 12 and up. The company is moving forward with a second vaccine against the novel coronavirus with a different mode of administration. 

In a roundup of scientific studies on the novel coronavirus, a small study suggests no traces of mRNA vaccines end up in mothers’ breast milk and a gene called IFI27 that becomes activated early in Covid-19 might help identify people most likely to have contracted the virus after coming in contact with an infected person.