A yeast-based coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine is being developed by a Filipino-American molecular biologist and priest, The Varsitarian reported.

Keeping in mind the cost of current vaccines now, Rev. Fr. Nicanor Pier Giorgo Austriaco is offering a cheaper alternative for Filipinos.

He confirmed these efforts in a presentation during the 121st Plenary Assembly of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) held last week.

However, the available details he had provided is that what they are developing is a yeast-based oral vaccine that “will be cheaper and can be transported without refrigeration”.

Austriaco, a professor of Biology and of Theology, is currently a visiting professor of Biological Sciences at the University of the Santo Tomas (UST).

This is not the first time that Austriaco’s current work was made known to the public.

During a science event of the UST-Department of Biological Sciences held virtually last December 4, he initially proposed this project, which he likened to that of a popular Japanese milk drink Yakult.

In an interview with the school’s paper The Varsitarian, Austriaco shared that a person “will just take the yeast and would drink the yeast every day”.

He said it may sound crazy, but he pursues his project as it is “worth trying”.

In a separate interview with News5 last December 9, Austriaco shared his frustration on the cost of vaccines as well as the storage requirements.

He also shared a bit of the process.

Using the probiotic yeast available in the market, he and his team would genetically modify it to induce the immune system response against the deadly virus. He also noted that this type of yeast is similar to the one being fermented to produce beer.

Austriaco plans to return to his laboratory in the United States to finish the genetic engineering of the probiotic yeast and will bring it back to the Philippines in his laboratory setup in UST. (ES)