BriLife

BriLife is an investigational vaccine developed by the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) for the prevention of COVID-19. The vaccine is currently in the clinical trial phase and is not yet approved for general use.

Overview

BriLife is a Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based vaccine. The VSV vector has been genetically modified to express the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. The vaccine is designed to stimulate an immune response to this protein, thereby providing immunity to the virus.

Development and Testing

The development of BriLife began in early 2020, shortly after the SARS-CoV-2 virus was identified. The IIBR conducted preclinical testing on animals before moving on to human trials.

The Phase I clinical trial for BriLife began in November 2020, with 80 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55. The Phase II trial began in December 2020, with 1,000 volunteers. The Phase III trial is expected to involve 30,000 volunteers and will determine the vaccine's efficacy and safety.

Potential Advantages and Disadvantages

One potential advantage of BriLife is that it does not require ultra-cold storage, unlike some other COVID-19 vaccines. This could make it easier to distribute, particularly in regions where cold storage is a challenge.

However, as with any investigational vaccine, there are potential risks. The safety and efficacy of BriLife have not yet been fully established, and it is possible that the vaccine could have side effects or not provide complete protection against COVID-19.

See Also

• COVID-19 vaccine
• COVID-19 pandemic
• Vaccine trial
• Israel Institute for Biological Research

References

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  Reuven Rivlin with the first vaccinator in Phase B of the Israeli Vaccine of the Israeli Biological Institute, January 2021