[ May 2, 2024 ]
The Trump administration is organizing a Manhattan Project-style effort to drastically cut the time needed to develop a coronavirus vaccine, with a goal to have 100 million doses ready by year’s end.
Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed” Aims to Rush Coronavirus Vaccine
By Jennifer Jacobs and Drew Armstrong, Bloomberg, April 29, 2020:
The Trump administration is quietly organizing a Manhattan Project-style effort to drastically cut the time needed to develop a coronavirus vaccine, with a goal to have 100 million doses ready by year’s end, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Story continues below advertisementCalled “Operation Warp Speed,” the program will pull together private pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and the military to try to cut the development time for a vaccine by as much as eight months, one of the people said.
As part of the arrangement, taxpayers will shoulder much of the financial risk that vaccine candidates may fail, instead of drug companies.President Donald Trump’s top medical advisers, led by the infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, have repeatedly said that a coronavirus vaccine won’t be ready for 12 to 18 months at best. Until then, White House guidelines envision some economically damaging social-distancing practices maintained even as the U.S. begins to resume a more normal social and business life.
Last month, Trump directed Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to speed development of a vaccine, and administration officials have been meeting on the effort for three to four weeks, one of the people said. A meeting on the project was scheduled at the White House on Wednesday.
The people asked not to be identified because the project hasn’t yet been publicly announced.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, Michael Caputo, said the president refused to accept the timeline for standard vaccine development and encouraged a breakthrough process.
Speeding Up
Vaccine development is typically slow and high risk. The project’s goal is to cut out the slow part, the people said. Operation Warp Speed will use government resources to quickly test the world’s most promising experimental vaccines in animals, then launch coordinated human clinical trials to winnow down the candidates.
The best prospective vaccines would go into wider trials at the same time mass production ramps up.
The project will cost billions of dollars, one of the people said. And it will almost certainly result in significant waste by making inoculations at scale before knowing if they’ll be safe and effective — meaning that vaccines that fail will be useless. But it could mean having doses of vaccine available for the American public by the end of this year, instead of by next summer.
The group is discussing which Americans might be vaccinated first, as the medicines would likely roll off production lines in batches, one of the people said. The project would be funded from money already available to the government and won’t require new authority from Congress, one of the people said.There are at least 70 different coronavirus vaccines in development by drugmakers and research groups, according to the World Health Organization. But drugmakers have not coordinated their efforts to the extent they could through the Warp Speed project, one of the people said.
Under the effort, the Defense Department would make its animal research resources available for pre-clinical work on vaccines.
The group is also discussing the use of what’s known as a master protocol to test the vaccines. Instead of multiple clinical trials run by each drugmaker, competing for patients and resources, the government would organize one large trial to test several vaccines at once and advance the most promising ones.Oxford Vaccine
The Trump administration isn’t alone in trying to fast-track a vaccine. One of the world’s most promising vaccine candidates has been developed by a team at Oxford University in London. Last month, scientists at the U.S. National Institutes of Health innoculated six rhesus macaques with the Oxford vaccine and then exposed them to the coronavirus, the New York Times reported.
All six were healthy more than four weeks later, according to the Times. The researchers are currently testing their vaccine in 1,000 patients and plan to expand to stage two and three clinical trials next month involving about 5,000 more people.
The Oxford group told the Times they could have several million doses of their vaccine produced and approved by regulators as early as September.In the U.S., the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has meanwhile shifted much of its research effort to the coronavirus virus.
One of the people familiar with Operation Warp Speed drew a distinction with the Oxford group, describing the U.S. effort as broader in scope. It’s unclear which vaccine candidates would be part of Operation Warp Speed, or whether it would include the Oxford vaccine.More than 1 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the U.S., and at least 58,000 people have died from the illness it causes in the last two months. Widespread social-distancing measures have helped slow the spread, but at the cost of millions of jobs and losses to the economy that experts fear will take years to recover.
Along with wider diagnostic testing for the virus and an effective therapeutic drug, a vaccine is one of the key tools for reducing long-term risk from the virus. Testing can help contain an outbreak in its early stages, or after it’s been curbed enough to manage. A therapy can help those who get sick, reducing the risk of death and the burden on hospitals.
Gilead Sciences Inc. announced Wednesday that in a trial conducted by Fauci’s agency, the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, its experimental coronavirus therapy remdesivir helped patients recover faster than under standard care.
Optimistic Timetable
Vaccines are one of the most effective tools against viral disease, as they can prevent people from becoming sick at all. They’re a shortcut to the immunity that most people acquire after they’re sickened by a virus and recover. During the illness, the immune system produces antibodies that it can subsequently use to fight off later exposure to the same pathogen.
Vaccines use a live, weakened virus, a dead one, or pieces of the pathogen to trick the body into building defenses without having to get sick.But even Fauci’s prospective 12-to-18-month timetable would be years faster than typical vaccine development. A vaccine for the Ebola virus that went into clinical trials in 2014 received approval from U.S. regulators in December — a five-year effort considered remarkable for its speed.
And the new coronavirus poses fresh challenges. How many people get immunity after exposure, how robust the pathogen is, and how long it lasts are all still questions. Some research has shown that immunity to other coronaviruses, including those that cause SARS, MERS and forms of the common cold, may be limited or only last for a relatively short time.
It’s not clear how much of Operation Warp Speed is new and how much will involve ongoing projects, such as investments made by BARDA, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
BARDA has already handed out hundreds of millions of dollars to drugmakers including Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. The money is meant to fund both research and large-scale manufacturing at the same time, hopefully to accelerate vaccine production.
But last week, BARDA’s director Rick Bright was removed and reassigned to the NIH. He has said he will file a whistle-blower complaint, alleging the White House retaliated against him because he resisted promoting widespread use of malaria drugs Trump has touted for coronavirus.The drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, haven’t been proven effective against the virus and some clinical trials have been abandoned because of dangerous side effects. After directing the government to obtain more than 29 million doses of the drug, Trump has recently stopped promoting the medicine as a coronavirus treatment.
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34 Comments
4 years ago
Follow the money. This story comes out under the Bloomberg byline. They are promoting remdesivir, a favorite of Dr. Fauci, over hydroxycholorquine + Z-pac + Zn + C, which seems to be much cheaper and with fewer side effects, and with a longer track record of success. If I get sick with Wuhan coronavirus, God forbid, I want to be treated with HCQ + Z-pac + Zn + C.
4 years ago
Reply to
Surak2
“The FDA will announce Wednesday an emergency authorization for the use of Remdesivir, the Gilead Sciences drug that is showing promise in treating coronavirus, according to news reports.
Fauci told a group of reporters at the White House on Wednesday that the federal trial showed that the drug could shorten recovery time from the novel virus by about a third.”
And let the patient and doctor decide on the treatment.
4 years ago
Reply to
Surak2
don’t worry if you get sick there’s a real good chance you’re going to be just fine.
4 years ago
Why hasn’t Trump fired Fauci by now? The average person is seeing that this virus and been extremely over inflated, that it is actually not as virulent as the yearly flu and that Fauci’s agenda is not public health.
4 years ago
Reply to
DemocracyRules
If the horse is carrying you over a water fall – then change horses mid stream or not.
4 years ago
Reply to
gaz thewoodsman
Well I once had to make that decision, and I stuck with the horse. They can swim, and I’m still here. Fauci has had that job for 30 years, Trump inherited him. Trump has his reasons for keeping Fauci, and I am NOT exonerating Fauci either. Remember also that 94% of DC voted for Hillary in 2016, and good people are hard to find in DC. Trump gets the best he can find, and if he is stuck with a bad guy, he gives them enough rope to destroy themselves, like Comey, Sessions, etc., etc.
4 years ago
Reply to
DemocracyRules
Dr Buttar was asked recently if he thought Fauci should be fired. He responded ‘ well Dr Shiva thinks Fauci should be fired but I think that is the kindest thing that should happen to Fauci.’ I do get your point, but there is no horse that can swim anyone out of the Niagara Falls. That is what Fauci is doing to the US – and yes, I believe knowingly. He is on the Gates Foundation Leadership Council, gave tax payer dollars to China for medical research outlawed in the US, in the pockets of big pharma. Unless he is stopped the US may never recover from this. As one person said recently ‘ never accept a vaccine from someone who wants to depopulate the earth’ – referring to Bill Gates. Fauci wants social distancing until a vaccine is approved – for a virus now clearly shown to be less virulence and the yearly flu.
4 years ago
Reply to
gaz thewoodsman
Yeah it’s all a huge scam. The goal right now is to destroy the world economy and force the world to vaccinate. Dr Shiva knows his stuff we’d be a lot better off listening to his advice, far as Dr Fraudi that little fascists weasel needs to be fired.
4 years ago
Reply to
gaz thewoodsman
A virus that kills 60,000+ in two months and 2000 more per day is extremely overinflated?!?!?!?
4 years ago
Reply to
DVader
YES !!!! The numbers are wrong – lies actually – do a bit of research and some critical thinking. Fauci said publicly at a press briefing if someone dies of a heart attack in ICU and tests positive for covid-19 they WILL NOT be listed as a heart attack death. Many doctors are complaining also that even if covid symptoms are present they are listed as a covid death in the absence of a positive test and regradless of the actual cause of death. Brix also said publicly that any one with covid symptoms will be listed as a covid death regardless of any other co-morbidities or actual cause of death.
So yes, extremely over inflated as more and more front line MDs and medical professionals are now also affirming. If you read beyond the sensational headlines – which sadly is all most people do – this virus is nothing more than the yearly flu.
4 years ago
Reply to
gaz thewoodsman
gaz thewoodsman: “Why hasn’t Trump fired Fauci by now?”
Don’t play dumb because you’re afraid to see the truth that’s staring you in the face.
A better question would be why did Trump hire Fauci in the first place without thoroughly vetting him beforehand?
The uncomfortable truth is that Trump is, like Fauci, part of the swamp, you know, the swamp that Trump promised he would drain…… but never did.
Trump isn’t the long awaited messiah that everyone was telling themselves he was and were so anxious to believe.
His friends and associates, as well as many of his actions as president, have been, at the very least, very troubling.
4 years ago
Reply to
Merlinever
Anyone who leads with an insult or put-down most likely has nothing of value to contribute – certainly nothing rational or factual.
4 years ago
A recent Q drop has a link to a list of studies that show how Chloroquine (CHQ) and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are Effective Antivirals Against COVID-19.
4 years ago
it’s remarkably easy to do business when you are concerned about doing what is best for he country instead of getting kick-backs and lining the pockets of your fellow swamp creatures
4 years ago
Forget warp speed.
They get it done in “Trump time.”
4 years ago
A vaccine would be used on the most vulnerable 1/3rd of the population to prevent them from catching this in the first place, even if it’s only effective for one season, and the rest of the people could take other medications like HCQ as needed. It seems certain that a new outbreak will occur in the fall, for more than one reason.
4 years ago
Omg the things I’m going to buy, let me count the things. I’m not alone, by any means. As soon as shops open, I’ll be there as well as you! [I think that is why some people don’t want them to reopen- and that’s not cool. If the local malls open tomorrow, there WILL be record sales, even if we must wear masks.] UNLEASH US! LET US SHOP!
4 years ago
HCQ was VERY effective from testimony I’ve heard from many if taken early on. A 70 yr old neighbor of ours took it quickly & has recovered & breathing on his own.
4 years ago
Fire the little fascists weasel Dr Fraudi and get us a 100 million doses of vitamin C and we’ll just call it one helluva year smh
4 years ago
Reply to
jimmy
You are right, immunity is ours for the taking, but the left hates the idea of self empowerment. Vitamin D3 is equally effective in preventing a virus as a vaccination. If you want to see changes in your health, try juicing vegetables. When I juice regularly I go from 67 years old to about 50.
4 years ago
Reply to
Steve Cooper
Oh I agree vitamins are great for the immune system, i take them every day never had a vaccine in my life never had the flu in my life and rarely ever catch a cold. The human immune system is plenty powerful enough if you take care of it. Yes the left doesn’t like to promote healthy living especially big pharma. They can inject themselves with their own poison I’m not taking it.
4 years ago
The vaccine may prove more deadly than the virus. They want to push ahead without testing on animals. The reality is that they have tested vaccines on animals and found it worked to produce the antigens, thus seeming to be effective. The problems came later only after exposing the animals to the live virus. The vaccinated animals went into hyper immunity, killing them. Testing takes time. The only way to rush this is to march ahead without concern for consequences.
4 years ago
Mr. President Trump, You go ahead with your vaccines. I for one American WILL NOT allow that vaccine to be put into MY body. As WOMEN have been saying in the ILLEGALLY TAX SUPPORTED PP – – – MY BODY, MY CHOICE!!!!!
4 years ago
If B. Gates or similar Gigantomaniacs are in – A BIG NO !
For people over 60 it could be an option – if that virus doesn’t mutate earlier.
However – regarding the COVID-19 collateral damage it is 100% clear that the “expert” consultants have been very wrong in their estimations and advises.
An additional and extremely dangerous collateral problem are the biased media and the Democrats Party – together they have blood on their hands, and both are responsible for the intimidation of the people.
They “collaborate” to destroy the economy by keeping people unemployed and getting small business bankrupted.
Covid-19 is very unlikely more dangerous than an influenza virus, may be significantly less dangerous, the truth will be revealed pretty soon.
It is necessary to revive the country at once.
Last not least it is important to pay attention how to act during the next flu waves, respecting hygienic and physicians recommendations
4 years ago
100 million vaccines that haven’t stood the test of time and maybe kill 100 million people with a delayed adverse response. That’s why trials take time and you can’t replace time or they would have done that years ago. I can live with waiting.
4 years ago
A Gates vaccine. Look at all the deaths these vaccines have caused in Africa.
4 years ago
You take Trump’s promises seriously?!?!?!
4 years ago
“The Trump administration is organizing a Manhattan Project-style effort to drastically cut the time needed to develop a coronavirus vaccine”.
No one can reduce the time it takes to develop and ADEQUATELY test the safety of any vaccine.
Two years of testing among a large group of people of all ages, different sexes, etc. is the minimum time required.
When Gates called this vaccine “the final solution” his sinister arrogance was letting the horrible truth slip out; he has also stated that this vaccine is intended to, and will, reduced the world population by at least 15%!
4 years ago
Pamela, WHY are you promoting the poison(vaccine) as something that will save us when it is the opposite that will be responsible for millions of deaths? Are you that clueless about this? Or do you have a financial interest in killing people with a vaccine that will NOT work and will REDUCE the immunity of those receiving it, allowing them to more easily contract diseases?
