TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The initiator of the Nusantara vaccine, Terawan Agus Putranto, talked about how his team formulated a dendritic cell-based Nusantara vaccine that could work against the new coronavirus variants.

“About how the Nusantara vaccine can work against virus mutation is very easy. It only takes eight days as I change the antigen,” said Terawan in a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII on Wednesday, June 16.

To date, three of the four SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) have entered Indonesia, viz. the Alpha variant (B.1.17) that is first identified in the UK, the Beta variant (B.1351) that is first identified in South Africa, and the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) that is first identified in India. Various studies conclude that only Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are effective against the Delta variant.

Terawan claimed that the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by his team can also counteract the new virus variants. He had even ordered antigens for the three new variants that have entered the country. “Hopefully, [we are] allowed to conduct the phase III clinical trial,” he said.

The former Health Minister thus asked for help from the DPR Commission VII so that his vaccine will get a green light to continue the clinical trial stage, which was interrupted by a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), the Health Ministry, and the Indonesian National Army (TNI AD) on March 19.

The DPR Commission VII voiced support for Terawan and planned to summon the relevant parties to review the MoU. “The Commission VII fully supports the development of the Nusantara vaccine by doctor Terawan Agus Putranto and urges the continuation of phase III clinical trial of the vaccine in accordance with clinical trial principles,” the Commission VII Deputy Chairman Eddy Soeparno read the conclusion of the hearing.

Read: Terawan Explains the Nusantara Vaccine Fiasco in House Hearing

DEWI NURITA