BEIJING: China is at the forefront of global COVID-19 vaccine development, with most jabs undergoing phase-3 clinical trials, a health official said at a press conference.
As of Dec. 2, a total of 15 vaccine candidates developed in China had entered clinical trials, of which five are in phase-3, said Zheng Zhongwei, an official with the National Health Commission, citing statistics from the World Health Organization.
As phase-3 clinical trials of Chinese vaccines are underway in regions and countries not with the highest numbers of infections, it may take more time to obtain enough samples for the trials, said Zheng.
Some of the Chinese vaccine developers have just obtained enough samples for interim analysis of phase-3 clinical trials, and are submitting related materials to the National Medical Products Administration, said Zheng, adding that only vaccines meeting certain standards will be allowed to enter the market.
Endorsement by American media: Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac Biotech Ltd’s COVID-19 vaccine has shown to be effective in late-stage trials in Brazil, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people involved in the vaccine’s development.
Sao Paulo state’s Butantan Institute, which is organizing the late-stage trials of Sinovac’s vaccine CoronaVac in Brazil, said on Monday that any reports on the efficacy of the shot before a Wednesday announcement were “mere speculation.”
Brazil is the first country to complete late-stage trials of CoronaVac, which is also being tested in Indonesia and Turkey, the Journal reported here.
The results from the Brazil trials put CoronaVac above the 50% threshold that international scientists deem necessary to protect people, the Journal report said.
Butantan is poised on Wednesday to announce CoronaVac’s efficacy rate, according to the Journal.
Sinovac did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Sinovac and AstraZeneca Plc’s vaccine candidates may be ready for use in Brazil by mid-February, the country’s health minister said last week. –Agencies
