The brains behind the vaccine are based at Oxford's Jenner Institute – named after Edward Jenner, creator of the smallpox vaccine, and part of the faculty of medicine. Her motivation is to save lives by providing a vaccine that can beat back the coronavirus and normalize social and economic life around the world. Professor Gilbert and Professor Hill remain employees of the university and – until September, when Professor Gilbert stepped down from the Vaccitech board to focus on the vaccine – directors of the company. AstraZeneca estimates it will spend US$6 billion (£4.5 billion) producing the three billion doses it has promised globally by the end of 2021. Vaccitech may now be a spectator as the first iteration of the coronavirus vaccine is developed, but it could again play a central role in future.

Source: The Standard November 23, 2020 09:22 UTC