KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 13): Research of the country’s Covid-19 vaccine is still in the proof-of-concept stage, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Monday (Dec 13). Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim said for the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine, the candidate vaccine would undergo an in-vitro transcription process, involving various complex laboratory tests. On the inactivated vaccine research, he said the process of inactivating selected viruses would be done and special substances such as adjuvants would be added to enhance the immune response. Ahmad Amzad said the research of the Covid-19 mRNA vaccine is being carried out by researchers at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), while studies related to the development of inactivated virus vaccine technology are being conducted by the IMR with the cooperation of experts from UPM and the Veterinary Research Institute. He said the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation through its Combating Covid-19 Fund had also channelled an allocation of RM4.9 million to finance two projects.

Source: The Edge Markets December 13, 2021 14:14 UTC