Vietnam considers authorising first domestic COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has asked pharmaceutical company Nanogen to complete the results of its vaccine trials so that the first locally produced COVID-19 vaccine can be authorised for emergency use.

Nanogen is seeking emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine.
Nanogen is seeking emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine.

The MOH and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) held a meeting on July 22 to review the clinical trial data of Nanogen’s Nano Covax vaccine along with a proposal on its authorisation for emergency use.

According to Nanogen, its vaccine has been given to more than 13,620 volunteers during its clinical trials, including 60 in Phase I, 560 in Phase II, and 13,000 in Phase III.

In the third phase, more than 1,000 volunteers have been given two shots.

The company is finalising its documents on the vaccine and its pre-clinical and clinical trials and will report to the MOH next week.

Preliminary data shows the Nano Covax vaccine is safe and can generate antibody responses but there has not been enough time to evaluate how long the vaccine can protect people.

According to Associate Professor Le Van Truyen, chairman of the advisory council on drug licensing said that the council supports domestic vaccine research but the dossier seeking approval must be scientific and legal.

MOH Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan said the ministry will continue to facilitate Nanogen and other domestic companies to develop COVID-19 vaccines so that Vietnam can proactively secure the supply of vaccines in the fight against the pandemic.