G42 Healthcare, based in Abu Dhabi, announced Tuesday that it would extend trials III of its coronavirus vaccine to Bahrain volunteers.
These trials are the world’s first phase III trials of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, a term that refers to the use of viral waste that can no longer produce any more disease in a vaccine. Phase III trials expand previous studies on a new drug and administer the drug to more people than previous clinical stages to verify safety.
Expansion in Bahrain will be the third vaccine hub, as trials are still ongoing in the United Arab Emirates at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi and the Al Qarain Health Center in Sharjah.
Visit our coronavirus here for the latest updates.
In a statement, the G42 said the new trials, known as the 4Humanity campaign, represents continued collaboration between public fitness agencies in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in the fight against the disease. Up to 6,000 volunteers are wanted in the new bahrain hub.
“It was part of our initial plan to open several centers to make sure the larger ones have an effect and an opportunity for Americans to take the component and sign up for the 4Humanity campaign,” said Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare.
“There has been an incredibly enthusiastic reaction from Bahrain’s Ministry of Health and public fitness agencies to collaborate with us on testing and inspire their communities to volunteer in testing,” he added.
Trials began in Abu Dhabi on July 16 and are controlled through G42 Healthcare in partnership with abu Dhabi’s Ministry of Health, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Society (SEHA).
Sinopharm CNBG, a Pharmaceutical company based in China and the sixth largest vaccine producer in the world, developed the vaccine.
Last week, he announced that the program had already reached more than 5,000 volunteers in the UAE. Phase III trials followed the successful stages of Sinopharm phase i and II in China. According to G42, one hundred percent of the volunteers who participated in the trials generated COVID-19 antibodies after two doses of the control vaccine in 28 days.
The new Bahrain centre is expected to run for six to 12 months and be open to volunteers aged 18 to 60 who live in the country and will be tracked for the trial.