Human trials for Thai Covid-19 vaccine could start as early as October

Scientist says Thailand is producing its own vaccine to avoid a repeat of the event when vaccines it ordered arrived only after the H1N1 outbreak ended

If the Thai vaccine reaches clinical trials, it will be among the first done outside high-income countries to reach that stage

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A Thai scientist works on vaccine research at the National Primate Research Centre of Chulalongkorn University. Photo: dpa

Published: 3:00pm, 27 Jun 2020Updated: 3:21pm, 27 Jun 2020

Thailand aims to produce its own vaccine for the coronavirus disease, rather than waiting to buy inoculations from abroad, and human trials could start as early as October, according to the scientist leading one project.

“We learned a very painful lesson during the H1N1 pandemic when the government signed agreements to buy vaccines, but we did not get any until the outbreak was gone,” said Kiat Ruxrungtham, head researcher at Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development.

“The pandemic is teaching the whole world to do something different,” he said.

If we’re able to develop one of the effective vaccines and produce it locally, we’ll be able to cope with fighting against the pandemic on our own

Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham

Blood results after the first injection in monkeys showed all generated antibodies, according to Kiat’s study. The majority also developed neutralising antibodies, meaning the virus can be blocked from entering or damaging cells, he said.

The second dose was injected this week, and Kiat said he expects results to pass the criteria needed for human trials.

If this vaccine reaches clinical trials, it will be among the first done outside high-income countries to reach that stage.

Globally, there are currently more than 140 vaccines being studied for Covid-19, of which 13 are in the clinical evaluation stage, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).