Beijing-based China National Biotec Group Co. was awarded approval on Tuesday to conduct Phase III trials for its Covid-19 vaccines in the Middle Eastern country, the company said in a statement posted on its official WeChat account. The world’s fast-developing vaccine programs are moving into the final stage of testing before they are approved for innoculation for the general public. CNBG is the first Chinese vaccine developer to proceed toward a Phase III trial to test whether the two shots it developed are effective against the pathogen. Chinese companies have had to look for places with active virus outbreaks to complete the final stage of human testing, which requires thousands of people. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna Inc. is set to begin testing its shot next month in a 30,000-person trial in the US.

Source: Hindustan Times June 24, 2020 04:55 UTC