German-Chinese coronavirus vaccine trial begins in China
BERLIN: Clinical trials on humans have begun in China for a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by German pharmaceutical group BioNTech with Chinese company Fosun Pharma, the companies said Wednesday (Aug 5).
Seventy-two participants have already received their first dose following approval for the phase 1 trial from Chinese regulatory authorities, BioNTech and Fosun Pharma said in a statement.
The vaccine candidate, known as BNT162b1, is one of four based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology.
Another, BNT162b2, is being evaluated in a global phase 3 trial conducted by BioNTech and US giant Pfizer which started on Jul 27.
The phase 1 trial in China involves 144 participants who will receive two doses 21 days apart.
Those aged 18-55 will be the first to take part, followed...