There are 1,089 clinical trials conducted on coronavirus as of now and of these 419 clinical trials were in Asia-Pacific. More than 35% of the clinical trials were conducted in Asia-Pacific. The scientists are in a race to save the world with a vaccine. Here are a few developments:
Italy claims of developing vaccine
Italy has claimed to have successfully developed the world’s first coronavirus vaccine that works on humans, according to some reports, which are yet to be confirmed by the World Health Organisation. As per the tests carried out at Rome’s infectious-disease Spallanzani Hospital, the coronavirus vaccine has antibodies generated in mice that work on human cells.
“This is the most advanced stage of testing of a candidate vaccine created in Italy,” Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of Takis, the firm developing the medication told Italian newsagency ANSA in a report.
Indian Efforts:
As many as 30 vaccines are under development in different stages in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed the current status efforts in vaccine development, drug discovery, diagnosis, and testing of coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The PM took note of the extraordinary coming together of academia, industry, and government, combined with the speedy but efficient regulatory process, said an official statement.
WHO Update:
Eight candidate vaccines have entered the human clinical trials and another 100 candidates are in preclinical evaluation to find a permanent cure for Coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has updated.
Four vaccines under human trials are from China. Except for the DNA-based vaccine attempted by US-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals, all the other vaccines are now undergoing Phase 1 and Phase 2 human trials together, to fast track the development process.
Remdesivir:
Gilead Sciences Inc said it is joining hands with manufacturers in other countries including India and Pakistan to boost the supply of the drug Remdesivir which currently under the human trial.
Gilead last week received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization for using remdesivir as a treatment against COVID-19, after the drugmaker provided data showing the drug had helped COVID-19 patients.
One of Bangladesh’s largest drugmakers, Beximco Pharmaceuticals , will start remdesivir production this month, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a senior company executive.
Pfizer begins human trials:
The pharmaceutical major Pfizer has begun testing a new coronavirus vaccine in the United States. The initial trial will involve 360 volunteers, and the first subjects have already received injections.
The vaccine was developed in a partnership between Pfizer and the German biotech company BioNTech. In addition to the U.S. trials, there will be some 200 patients enrolled in trials in Germany.
