Vietnam poised to start clinical trials of third COVID-19 vaccine this month

VOV.VN - The Ministry of Health has recently granted approval for clinical trials to begin on the ARCT-154 COVID-19 vaccine, with medical tests set to begin on August 8 at Hanoi Medical University.

The ARCT-154 vaccine has been purchased from California-based Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc by Vingroup, the nation’s largest private conglomerate, through its subsidiary VinBioCare Biotechnology Joint Stock Company.

The vaccine has been developed based on mRNA technology for the purpose of preventing COVID-19 and targeting fast-spreading variants such as Alpha and Delta strains, with the technology being transferred by Arcturus to Vingroup.

Moving forward, Vingroup will co-operate with the Health Ministry to conduct phase three of clinical trials of the mRNA-based candidate ARCT-154 in approximately 20,000 adults.

The initial two phases which took place in Singapore and the United States have ensured the vaccine's safety, according to a Vingroup representative.

Vingroup is therefore set to apply for approval for emergency use of the vaccine in the nation this year, with production set to start in early 2022. A facility owned by VinBioCare is currently under construction and is expected to produce 200 million doses annually, with the site projected to produce the first batches of the vaccine by early next year.

Arcturus Therapeutics is a leading clinical-stage messenger RNA medicines company which primarily focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of therapeutics for rare diseases and vaccines. 

At present, there are three vaccines under development in the nation, with the first vaccine, Nanocovax, being developed  by the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC and already in its third and final phase of human trials.

The second vaccine, Covivac, is being developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) and is in phase two of trials.

The ARCT-154 vaccine therefore represents the country’s third COVID-19 vaccine to be clinically tested on humans.

Moreover, Russia's Sputnik vaccine will be piloted for pipe processing in the nation, with the first batch being sent to Russia for quality control. The country has secured deals for 130 million doses so far and is in the process of negotiating with other manufacturers for another 40 million doses in the near future.

The nation is making all-out efforts to get 70% of the population vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the first quarter of next year.

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