Authorities allow China’s second Covid vaccine candidate to conduct trials in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Health officials have approved the Covid 19 vaccine candidate developed by China's WestVac Biopharma to conduct third-phase clinical trials in Nepal, according to government officials. "We approved the proposal of WestVac Biopharma to conduct third-phase trials for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate last month after it submitted all the necessary documents," Namita Ghimire, an official at the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) said on Saturday. "The trials will be conducted among people aged 18 and above." It is the second China-made vaccine and the third COVID-19 vaccine overall to be authorised for late-stage clinical trials in Nepal. In August, a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine jointly developed by China's Suzhou Abogen Biosciences, the Institute of Military Medicine under the Academy of Military Sciences and Walvax Biotechnology Co Ltd received a green signal to conduct trials in the country. "We have already given approval to WestVac Biopharma for the import of its vaccine candidate and conducting clinical trials in Nepal," said Santosh KC from the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) WestVac Biopharma applied for the trials in August. Ghimire said it was informed that the Chinese company could start trials from January next year.

Source: RSS/Xinhua

READ ALSO:

• 20m doses of Covid vaccines in stock; Health minister urges citizens to get third dose
• FDA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in young kids
• US govt donates 100,620 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Nepal
• 100,620 doses of Pfizer vaccine donated by US arrive in Nepal