Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group said on Friday that its unit has received clinical trial approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by German firm BioNTech.
Many potential vaccines for COVID-19 are being studied, and several large clinical trials may report results later this year. If a vaccine is proven safe and effective, it must be approved by national regulators.
WHO is working with partners around the world to help coordinate key steps in this process. Once a safe and effective vaccine is available, WHO will work to facilitate equitable access for the billions of people who will need it. Currently, a few leading economies like Russia, the United States, and China are making headlines for vaccine developments.
The experimental COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, is more than 90% effective based on initial results from large trials outside China, BioNTech’s partner Pfizer Inc said on Monday.
Shanghai Fosun said in a company filing that its unit will begin a Phase II clinical trial in China for the candidate when conditions are optimal.