Omicron-specific Sinopharm, Sinovac COVID vaccine candidates cleared for clinical trial
ReutersOmicron-specific Sinopharm, Sinovac COVID vaccine candidates cleared for clinical trial
April 16, 2022, 5:43 AM EDT
BEIJING, April 16 (Reuters) – COVID-19 vaccine candidates developed by a Sinopharm subsidiary and Sinovac Biotech (SVA.O) to target the Omicron variant were approved for clinical trials in Hong Kong, the companies said on Saturday.
A vial labeled “Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine” is seen in this illustration taken January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Scientists worldwide are racing to study upgraded injections against Omicron, as data indicated that antibodies elicited by vaccines based on older strains show weaker activity to neutralise the highly transmissible variant.
The two candidates from units of Sinopharm subsidiary China National Biotec Group (CNBG) and one from Sinovac contain inactivated or “killed” coronavirus and are similar to vaccines that the companies are supplying in China and overseas, the companies said in statements.
The Sinopharm candidates will be tested as boosters in adults who have already received two or three vaccine doses, CNBG said. It did not specify which vaccine products the trial participants would have received before taking the experimental booster, or how many subjects would be recruited.
The two candidates from units of Sinopharm subsidiary China National Biotec Group (CNBG) and one from Sinovac contain inactivated or “killed” coronavirus and are similar to vaccines that the companies are supplying in China and overseas, the companies said in statements.
The Sinopharm candidates will be tested as boosters in adults who have already received two or three vaccine doses, CNBG said. It did not specify which vaccine products the trial participants would have received before taking the experimental booster, or how many subjects would be recruited.
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Reuters