[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The first clinical trial vaccine for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has been developed in the United States. The developed vaccine is planned to undergo clinical trials with volunteers in April.
On the 24th (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the American pharmaceutical company Moderna produced a COVID-19 vaccine at its Norwood, Massachusetts factory and sent it to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The institute plans to conduct experiments on 25 healthy volunteers in April. In the clinical trial, after receiving two injections, they will check not only safety but also whether an immune response to COVID-19 occurs. The clinical trial results are expected to be released in July or August.
WSJ described Moderna's vaccine development as a "remarkably rapid response to a recently emerged infectious disease." If the clinical trial begins as scheduled in April, it will be only three months since the start of vaccine development. Compared to the 20 months it took for NIAID to develop a vaccine and conduct clinical trials on humans during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, the time has been significantly shortened.
Anthony Fauci, director of NIAID, said, "Entering phase 1 clinical trials in three months is undoubtedly a world record," adding, "There has been no faster case." Public health experts explain that as vaccine technology develops with investments from government agencies and the private sector, the development period shortens each time a new infectious disease emerges.
However, it remains to be seen whether the new vaccine developed by Moderna will receive final approval. Even if the first clinical trial succeeds, subsequent research and approval procedures must be followed, so final market release is possible only after next year. The second clinical trial is expected to take about 6 to 8 months. The second clinical trial may be conducted in the United States or possibly in places like China. If the second clinical trial also succeeds, market release is expected.
Although it will still take time until the vaccine is marketed, the possibility of being prepared to respond with a vaccine by next winter has increased. Fauci said, "By next winter, it may return like seasonal flu," and added, "Developing a vaccine is useful."
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