Preliminary data from a clinical trial has shown that the vaccine developed by Chinese institutes induced high-titer antibodies in all those who had been inoculated. The result has been demonstrated though two different protocols and dosages.

Experts said that the result preliminarily suggests that the vaccine is safe and effective, taking into consideration similar products in the past and existing data on human biology.

The inactivated vaccine was jointly developed by China's National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention (ICDC) and a Wuhan-based research institute affiliated with China National Biotec Group (CNBG)'s parent company Sinopharm. It is among five Chinese experimental vaccines being developed to address COVID-19, and the project has been strongly supported by the country's Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Health Commission.

Wu Guizhen, chief expert of biosecurity at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the development of the vaccine started on Jan. 7 upon the isolation of the novel coronavirus from samples for the first time, and the trials began on April 27 after finishing a series of preclinical studies and being approved by the National Medical Products Administration.

According to experts, the clinical trials are believed to have achieved the most ideal results among those of the kind so far, and the trials also feature the longest duration and produced the most comprehensive data. Experts said that the trial efforts have provided science-based and evaluable data for epidemic prevention and control, and China has contributed its part to developing an accessible and affordable COVID-19 vaccine.

During the development and trials, CNBG has also established the world's largest workshop for producing COVID-19 vaccines. It is now the world's only negative pressure plant for COVID-19 vaccine production that was designed in accordance with biosafety and good manufacturing practice standards and can meet emergency needs for the vaccines in quantity after being put into use. Data shows that it will be able to produce 120 million doses of such vaccines annually.

(You can also read this article at:http://www.china.org.cn/china/2020-07/01/content_76225138.htm)