Last updated on May 18th, 2021 at 05:24 am
Thailand will postpone clinical trials of its coronavirus vaccine due to limited overseas manufacturing space, a senior official said on Wednesday, but plans to restart trials by the end of the year.
Health authorities had expected human vaccine testing by October, but will postpone the full ability of factories abroad for several months, said Kiat Ruxrungtham, director of the vaccine research program at Chulalongkorn University. The delay would be a setback for the Kingdom ‘s drive to rapidly produce its own vaccine and comes to complete trials and gain regulatory approval as developers worldwide race.
There is a race between countries to ensure supply in the midst of competition for access, with Britain and the United States leading each in securing six vaccine dealings with drug manufacturers. Tuesday’s Cabinet approved a budget of 1 billion baht for vaccines, 60% of which would be invested in the vaccine program of Oxford University and the rest in its domestic program.
Thailand reported 3,403 confirmed coronavirus cases, and 58 deaths. Local transmission has not been confirmed for more than three months.
In march, the first patient obtained the vaccine for the inquiry. The trial started in the Seattle area, which became the US outbreak’s epicenter, with 42 of the nation’s 69 deaths. The experimental vaccine was developed by scientists at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases in conjunction with biotechnology company Moderna Inc. It’s one of the attempts to find a Covid-19 vaccine.
GlaxoSmithKline revealed it is working on an experimental vaccine with the Chinese-based Clover Biopharmaceuticals. Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson are working with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority on potential vaccines.
