Amongst the seven-approved clinical trials in the world, Sinovac Biotech, a biopharmaceutical company based in China, has been preparing for mass production of a possible COVID-19 vaccine. The experimental vaccine with the name “coronavac” is under phase three of the trials which determines whether or not the drug is effective against the virus carrier. Due to the lowering number of cases in China, Sinovac is looking to conduct and finish phase 3 with patients from other countries, particularly Europe and Asia.Â
Nasdaq-listed Sinovac is the first pharmaceutical company to market a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, aka swine flu, back in 2009. And with more than a hundred labs around the world trying to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, the health firm aims to immediately do a mass production once it passes all clinical trials. It also plans to collaborate with foreign partners as part of providing its potential vaccine to the rest of the world.Â
Based on previous phases, coronavac has “largely protected” macaques(Old World monkeys) from infection. As of April, only 144 volunteers participated in the phase three trial. According to the Sinovac, several thousand more are needed to ensure that its vaccine is effective against the current coronavirus. And while the World Health Organization has warned experts that developing a vaccine could take between 12 to 18 months, Sinovac continues to work 24 hours a day, wasting no time to develop a vaccine. As to when it’ll happen, Director of Brand Management for Sinovac Liu Peicheng said, “it’s the question everyone is asking themselves.“
