In an interview with A Haber, Prof. Dr. Şaban Tekin, Director of the Institute of Gene Engineering and Biotechnology at TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) and Coordinator of the COVID-19 Turkey Platform, made important statements about the vaccine and drug studies carried out by the "Covid-19 Turkey Platform" under the coordination of TÜBİTAK MAM GMBE.

Stating that 7 different domestic vaccines are being studied against the virus and 2 of these vaccines are expected to be ready for use by November-December, TÜBİTAK MAM GMBE Director Prof. Dr. Şaban Tekin said in his speech: "The coordination of domestic vaccines made by Covid-19 Turkey Platform is carried out by TÜBİTAK MAM GMBE. We currently have 7 vaccines in the process. The VLP vaccine, which is 1 of our 7 vaccines, has completed the Phase-1 phase. Phase-2 studies will start from the first week of June, and then the Phase-3 phase will be started. In another inactive vaccine study conducted by Prof. Dr. Osman Erganiş, Phase-1 studies are ongoing, and clinical studies are ongoing at Ankara City Hospital. As soon as this is completed, the necessary procedures will be taken for the Phase-2 phase. In our third vaccine, the adenoviral-based Covid-19 vaccine, Phase-1 and Phase-2 productions were carried out in a GMP environment. Our applications regarding this were made before TİTCK. As soon as approval is received, the Phase-1 study will begin."

Stating that the vaccine that is closest to use by TÜBİTAK is the VLP vaccine made with the METU-BİLKENT team, Prof. Dr. Şaban Tekin, Director of TÜBİTAK MAM GMBE, stated that the vaccine prepared by Prof. Dr. Mayda Gürsel in Nobel Facilities is about to proceed to Phase-2 studies and that there is a possibility that this vaccine may receive early use approval if the Ministry of Health TİTCK deems it appropriate towards the end of the year.

Prof. Dr. Şaban Tekin, who gave information about vaccine studies other than TÜBİTAK and the vaccine study conducted by Erciyes University, said, "We do not know now because there is no publication, but according to the news we received, Phase-2 has been completed in the vaccine study conducted at Erciyes University. Phase-3 studies will start in June. Of course, they also have the possibility of receiving early use approval this year. At the moment, I can say that these 2 vaccines are the most active vaccines that can be put into service within the year. If there are no problems during these studies and in the production process, at least 2 vaccines can be ready in Turkey."

Prof. Dr. Şaban Tekin, Director of TÜBİTAK MAM GMBE, said: "When we started these studies within the scope of COVID-19 Turkey Platform, unfortunately there was no vaccine production in Turkey. Neither in terms of facilities. Except for veterinary productions, there was no production of human vaccines. Teams were working in a disorganized manner in their own laboratories. R&D studies have been carried out until today. Unfortunately, our previous vaccine capabilities have been forgotten. We revitalized them, gathered these teams together and 7 vaccine projects were formed within the scope of the platform. With a truly extraordinary effort, we had set out with the slogan of achieving together, developing together. We said it was possible together. We have seen that this is indeed possible. Because in our platform, work is carried out in mutual cooperation. The whole platform is coordinated by TÜBİTAK MAM GMBE. We provide all kinds of support to these teams. We provide procurement support, supply support, experimental challenge essays, neutralizing essays to the teams if they wish. In addition, we make our laboratories available to those who want to use them. Both companies and these teams can come here whenever they want and do whatever they want. In this way, there has been a unity. Not only here, but the teams also opened their laboratories to each other. They helped each other. There was a serious cooperation. The platform structure worked very well, and we think it will be used in future TÜBİTAK projects. Because this platform model has attracted serious interest both from abroad and at home. We have also received information on this subject. Therefore, we are succeeding and developing together. Everyone has contributed, 436 researchers from different institutions, universities, companies, state research centers, people from all levels, more than 200 of them young researchers, who have made a serious effort. Their work is still ongoing. A serious capacity has been created in this regard. These professors and teams will produce vaccines that Turkey will need in the future. Our state has serious support in this regard. We are creating a vaccine production center here."

Prof. Dr. Şaban Tekin stated that all domestic vaccines are produced under the control of the TİTCK, under GMP conditions, that is, under the highest hygienic conditions, in comfortable environments. Prof. Dr. Şaban Tekin said that the World Health Organization does the same in domestic vaccine studies as it does in international standards, even more meticulously, and that these are inspected by the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK) and that it decides whether the projects will continue or not according to the results of this inspection.

To access the interview video Click here.