Gamma variant accounts for 90% of cases in São Paulo; Butantan begins clinical trials of Butanvac

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – There are 19 coronavirus variants circulating in São Paulo and the P.1 (now called Gamma) variant that originated in Manaus, is predominant in the state, accounting for 89.9% of cases, according to the Network of Variant Alerts coordinated by the Butantan Institute, the São Paulo institute reported Wednesday.

According to the Butantan, the B.1.1.7 (now called Alpha) variant, which originated in the UK, accounts for 4.2% of analyzed cases, while the B1.1.28 variant, which originated in Manaus, had an incidence of 3.5%. Butantan collected the data between January and May 29.

The data were collected from genomic sequencing of a portion of the positive diagnostic tests performed at the Butantan and other laboratories that make up the network coordinated by the institute. “Between January and the end of May, 4,812 complete genomes of 834,114 positive cases were sequenced,” the Butantan said in a statement.

Also on Wednesday, the Butantan launched the website for pre-registration of volunteers interested in taking part in the Butanvac clinical trials, a vaccine against Covid-19 to be fully produced in Brazil, with technology developed in the United States, eliminating the need to import the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from abroad.

Clinical trials with the potential vaccine have been authorized by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA).

Phase 1 trials will involve 418 volunteers over 18 years of age and will initially be conducted by the University of São Paulo School of Medicine’s Clínicas Hospital in Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of the state.

“Other research centers of excellence have already expressed interest and will be announced soon. Phases 2 and 3 should recruit up to 5,000 volunteers,” said in a statement the São Paulo state government, to which the Butantan is linked.

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