BEIJING, Oct 29 (Reuters) - China's Shenzhen Kangtai
Biological Products has begun a mid-stage human
trial of its experimental coronavirus vaccine, clinical trial
registry data shows.
Kangtai's candidate is among more than 10 potential vaccines
Chinese scientists have brought into various phases of clinical
trials in efforts to counter the virus that has killed more than
1.1 million people globally.
The company plans to test the vaccine's safety and ability
to trigger immune responses in a Phase 2 clinical trial expected
to recruit 1,000 participants, according to the latest record
published on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on Wednesday.
The vaccine candidate uses an inactivated virus that cannot
replicate in human cells.
The Phase 2 trial was scheduled to begin on Oct. 27,
according to the registration record, and a person familiar with
the matter confirmed to Reuters that the trial has already
started.
Apart from developing its own vaccine, Kangtai also has a
deal to make and supply mainland China with the vaccine
candidate developed by AstraZeneca and researchers at
the University of Oxford.
(Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Ryan Woo
Editing by David Goodman
)