2nd China COVID-19 vaccine passes PH panel review

SCB-2019 (S-Trimer COVID-19 Vaccine) SCB-2019 is a recombinant subunit vaccine candidate for COVID-19. Utilizing its patented Trimer-Tag© technology, Clover has produced a S-Trimer subunit vaccine candidate that resembles the native trimeric viral spike via mammalian cell-culture production system. Image from Clover Biopharmaceuticals website

MANILA, Philippines — A COVID-19 vaccine from another Chinese drugmaker passed the evaluation of the country’s vaccine experts panel, making it the second Chinese COVID-19 vaccine to advance in the application for a clinical trial.

Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Department of Science and Technology’s Council for Health Research and Development, said Clover Biopharmaceuticals from China has passed the technical review of the Philippines’ vaccine expert panel.

Their application was then submitted to the Ethics Review Board for evaluation and the Food and Drug Administration before it can conduct a clinical trial in the country.

The first vaccine to pass the vaccine experts panel is China’s Sinovac Biotech, whose application was approved by the panel sometime in October.

“Ang Sinovac ay nakatapos na ng technical review. Mayroong isang kumpanya na nakatapos na ng technical review. Ito ‘yung Clover Biopharmaceuticals,” Montoya said in an online forum.

(Sinovac is already done with its technical review by the vaccine experts panel. Another company, Clover Biopharmaceuticals, is also finished.)

“So dalawa ‘yan at ‘yan ay pinasa na sa Ethics Review Board,” he added.

(So that’s two firms already and both have submitted their application to the Ethics Review Board.)

If everything goes smoothly, Montoya said both firms could start their clinical trials by late December or early January.

The Philippines is in talks with 17 drugmakers for a potential COVID-19 vaccine, Montoya said, five of which have already submitted their application to conduct a clinical trial in the country.

EDV