Scientists Close to Find Corona Vaccine Want to Make Sure the Poorest Get It, Too

A team of scientists in the UK is developing a COVID-19 vaccine, but if they succeed, they won’t be partnering with any pharmaceutical giant. Instead, they’ve set up a social enterprise to guarantee access to the world’s poorest.

“Right now we think the focus should be on how to solve the problem rather than how to make money out of it,” says Simon Hepworth, director of enterprise at the Imperial College in London, UK. “Social enterprise fits with our mission – applying scientific discoveries for the benefit of society.”

The scientists from Imperial are working on human clinical trials for the vaccine, with hopes to distribute it at a “modest” cost next year should it prove safe and effective.