Coronavirus: Chinese inactivated vaccine candidate produces immune response, study shows
- But whether it can protect individuals against Covid-19 ‘remains unknown’, authors say
- Product developed by Sinopharm and Wuhan Institute of Biological Products
The results of the first two phases of trials appeared to show the product – developed by Sinopharm and Wuhan Institute of Biological Products – was safe, but a third phase of testing, which has started, would provide more information, the study’s authors said.
“Although the inactivated vaccine elicited robust antibody responses, whether it could protect individuals against Covid-19 remains unknown,” said the study, which was published in the Journal of American Medical Association on Thursday.
It is the first to provide clinical trial data for an inactivated vaccine for Covid 19. Inactivated vaccines consist of virus particles, bacteria or other pathogens that have been grown in culture and then lose disease producing capacity.
The Sinopharm product is one of three Chinese vaccine candidates undergoing phase three clinical trials. The new research was conducted by a team of 30 and partly supported by China National Biotec Group, a unit of Sinopharm.
The trial involved 320 healthy adults, aged 18 to 59. They were given four different kinds of injections – either a placebo, or a low, medium or high dose of the vaccine candidate.