Coronavirus: Fosun Pharma, BioNTech’s China vaccine trial is an important step before securing marketing approval, companies say
- 144 participants in mainland China will receive two shots of the BNT162b1 coronavirus vaccine candidate spaced by 21 days
- BioNTech among the first international biopharmaceutical companies to start clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate in China
The first 72 of 144 participants in mainland China received a dose of BNT162b1, according to a statement from the companies.
“We are proud to be among the first international biopharmaceutical companies to initiate a clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate in China as part of our effort to make our vaccine available globally, if approved,” said Ugur Sahin, chief executive officer and co-founder of BioNTech.
The beginning of the clinical trial is an “important step” for the companies to secure authorisation to market the vaccine, he added.
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The trial will enrol 144 healthy individuals to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and to confirm dose selection, the companies said.