Scientist Creates a Beer That Doubles as a ‘Vaccine’, Claims It Gave Him ‘Robust’ Immunity to Cancer

A scientist has created what may be the world’s first drinkable vaccine in the form of beer. Chris Buck, a virologist at the National Cancer Institute, developed and tested the experimental vaccine on himself despite institutional objections. “Anyone who is waiting for a transplant would like this vaccine,” he said. “If I were waiting for a transplant, I would get it immediately.” The project has sparked intense debate about vaccine development, safety protocols, and public trust in medical science.

The Man Behind the Brew

Chris Buck is not an amateur experimenter. He is a respected virologist at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Buck studies polyomaviruses, which are linked to cancers and serious health problems in people with weakened immune systems. He has discovered 4 of the 13 polyomaviruses known to infect humans.

What Are Polyomaviruses?

Polyomaviruses are widespread microbes that infect most people by age nine. Up to 91% percent of people carry BK polyomavirus, the target of Buck’s vaccine. While dormant in most people, these viruses can cause bladder cancers and painful bladder conditions. They pose serious threats to organ transplant recipients with weakened immune systems.

The Problem Buck Wanted to Solve

Transplant patients face devastating complications from polyomaviruses. Kidney transplant recipients can lose their donated organs when dormant viruses reawaken and cause damage. Buck visited a pediatric hospital where children with polyomavirus bladder infections screamed so loudly from pain that soundproofing was installed. Transplant surgeons have demanded vaccines for their vulnerable patients.

How the Vaccine Beer Works

Buck’s vaccine uses brewer’s yeast to produce empty polyomavirus shells. These shells cannot cause infection but trigger the immune system to create protective antibodies. The yeast ferments into beer, creating a drinkable vaccine. Buck chose yeast because it is already considered safe for human consumption and is widely used in food production.

The Unexpected Discovery

Buck’s team initially tested various delivery methods on mice. Nasal sprays and skin scratches showed promise, but dead yeast fed to mice failed completely. However, live yeast mixed with mouse food produced robust antibodies. Buck called, seeing these results feel like an earthquake, as it contradicts expectations about how oral vaccines work.

Testing on Himself

Buck drank the first batch over five days in late May, consuming a pint daily. He followed with two booster rounds seven weeks apart. Buck measured his antibody levels by pricking his finger before and after drinking. Tests suggested he had developed antibodies against two types of BK polyomavirus, thought to cause certain types of bladder cancer. His brother and other family members also consumed the beer.

The Institutional Roadblock

A research ethics committee at the National Institutes of Health told Buck he could not experiment on himself by drinking the vaccine beer. Buck acknowledged the committee’s authority over his work activities. However, he argued they could not govern his private life. He established Gusteau Research Corporation to continue his experiments as a private citizen.

Publishing Against Advice

A second ethics committee objected to Buck publishing his results on bioRxiv.org because of the self-experiment. Buck refused to wait for approval, saying the “bureaucracy was inhibiting science”. He posted his findings on Zenodo.org and announced them on his Substack blog. Buck stated that one week of people dying from not knowing was unacceptable to him.

The Safety Concerns

Other scientists have raised serious safety questions about the vaccine beer. Michael Imperiale, a University of Michigan virologist, said conclusions cannot be drawn from testing on just two people. Vaccines normally undergo large trials to identify unexpected side effects. This is especially critical for polyomavirus vaccines intended for vulnerable transplant patients who are on immunosuppressant drugs.

Trust and Timing Issues

Arthur Caplan, a medical ethicist formerly at NYU, called this the worst time to introduce a do-it-yourself vaccine. Public trust in vaccines is already fragile due to widespread antivaccine rhetoric. Beer companies might fear that vaccine products could damage their brand integrity. The current political climate is hostile to vaccines, Caplan warned.

Supporters See Promise

Some researchers support Buck’s approach as potentially calming vaccine fears by giving people control. Bryce Chackerian, a University of New Mexico virologist, expressed sympathy for Buck’s frustration with vaccine access constraints. He has no personal safety concerns about this vaccine type but believes in the importance of established testing systems for public trust.

The Food Versus Drug Debate

Buck realized his vaccine might not need FDA approval as a drug. Products people can eat can be sold as dietary supplements or food under different regulations. Food and supplements do not require multiple testing rounds like vaccines do. Buck says his beer ingredients meet the FDA definitions of generally regarded as safe for consumption.

A Personal Motivation

Buck recounts how a friend was denied the HPV vaccine because he was an adult man when access was limited to adolescent girls. The friend later died from head and neck cancer caused by that virus. Buck compares withholding vaccines from people who want them to the evils of the Tuskegee experiment. This personal loss drives his conviction.

How to Make Vaccine Beer

Buck and his brother posted a method for making vaccine beer on Zenodo.org. Andrew Buck set up a corporation to sell the yeast strains Chris developed. They have made sales to two scientists who are friends and supporters. People who do not drink beer could pour off the alcohol and eat the yeast or take it in capsule form.

Broader Applications Possible

Buck believes yeast could deliver vaccines against many diseases, including COVID-19, H5N1 bird flu, and HPV-caused cancers. The live yeast’s ability to carry empty viral particles through the stomach to interact with gut immune cells is significant. This finding suggests the approach is not limited to polyomavirus vaccines but could work for other diseases.

The DIY Vaccine Movement

Preston Estep, a geneticist, created his own nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine before authorized vaccines became available. Estep argues that bioethicists do not actually know if DIY vaccines erode public trust. If vaccine beer proves safe and effective, it could build trust by offering a familiar, comforting approach. Buck’s brother is selling yeast, essentially vaccine factories.

Political and Regulatory Threats

Buck says it is more important than ever for people seeking disease protection to have options. Even with political saber-rattling, authorities cannot stop people from cooking in their own kitchens. While homebrewing vaccines is not ideal, Buck sees it as necessary if commercial options are shut down. He feels a moral imperative to continue.

Career on the Line

Buck calls this the most important work of his career, important enough to risk everything. He does not see himself as a radical trying to subvert the system. Buck says he is obeying the system and using the only option left available. His NIH contract states his job is to generate and disseminate scientific knowledge to the public.

An Uncertain Future

Buck’s vaccine beer represents both promise and peril for vaccine development. While his methods challenge traditional approval processes, they raise critical questions about safety, effectiveness, and public trust. Whether this unconventional approach succeeds or fails, it highlights the complex legal, ethical, and scientific challenges in making potentially lifesaving vaccines accessible to those who need them most.