Sao Paulo’s Butantan Institute, Brazil’s state-run center for medical studies, on Wednesday began production of ButanVac, Brazil’s first vaccine against the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), state Gov. Joao Doria announced.
“It will be the first vaccine manufactured entirely in Brazil, so it will be necessary to import raw material,” Doria said at a press conference at the institute financed by the state government.
Production of the first of the planned 18 million doses began in mid-July, but the Brazilian Health Regulation Agency (Anvisa) has not yet legalized the vaccine.
The institute also manufactures and packages the CoronaVac vaccine developed through the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Life Sciences. CoronaVac has been implemented since January 17 as a result of Brazil’s vaccination crusade against the coronavirus.
“In the first part of July it will be in a position to be used as soon as Anvisa authorizes it. ButanVac’s production may reach 100 to 150 million doses by the end of the year,” Doria said.
Anvisa on Tuesday asked the institute for more documentation before authorizing the start of human trials of ButanVac.
“We hope that Anvisa will give a sense of urgency,” said Doria, whose state has been the hardest hit by the pandemic.
Butantan, the leading manufacturer of flu vaccines in the southern hemisphere and the main manufacturer of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, represents 85% of the foreign consortium involved in the studies on the new vaccine.
The Sao Paulo government said 1,800 volunteers would participate in the first and second stages of human trials, once authorized.
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