As the "" heat up, Italy is upping its commitment to vaccine independence, betting €81 million in public funds on the vaccine produced by ReiThera, a biotech company in Castel Romano, south of  Rome.

After the success of phase 1 trials, phase 2 should begin in February. ReiThera will enlist 900 volunteers, hoping to have results by the late spring. If all goes well, phase 3, using as many as 10,000 volunteers, could also expand abroad. By the summer we should know if Italy will have its own weapon in its arsenal in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The Italian vaccine has several advantages over others already in use: it can be stored at normal fridge temperatures (2-8 degrees Celsius), only requires one dose and, if necessary, can be adapted to new variants in 2-3 months.

A reduction in supplies from Pfizer has meant that Italy has had to revise its vaccination timetable. So far, over  individuals in Italy have been vaccinated against Covid-19, with priority given to health care workers. Supply delays mean that the over-80s will be vaccinated four weeks later than scheduled and the rest of the population six to eight weeks later. “This important agreement will reduce our country's dependence in a very sensitive sector for the protection of our citizens' health," commented Domenico Arcuri, who in addition to being Italy’s special commissioner for the Covid emergency is also CEO of Invitalia, the government agency that has put the €81 million on the table.

The contract concluded yesterday will see Invitalia take a 30% share in ReiThera’s capital. The company will also be given €41.2m in grants and €7.8m in soft loans. The money will be spent on research and development, as well as to complete a new wing, where the company hopes to eventually be able to produce and package 10 million doses a month.

ReiThera employs around a hundred people with an average age of 35, of which, 70% are women. It is also in preliminary negotiations with the European Commission.

Supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine, still awaiting approval from the European Medicines Agency, are also delayed, with a 60% reduction in supply predicted for the first quarter of 2021. Italy is threatening to sue. With international solidarity breaking down in the face of vaccine realpolitik, other countries may also look toward “vaccine independence” as the way forward.