Three Chinese COVID-19 vaccines in second phase of clinical trials

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Three COVID-19 vaccines have entered second phase of clinical trials in Beijing, a municipal health official on May 18. Xu Qiang, head of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, disclosed, adding that Beijing has arranged 21 science and technology projects in response to the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Five innovative drugs have been approved for clinical trials, and all of them have entered phase II clinical studies, he said at a routine press conference on COVID-19 prevention and control. 

According to a three-year action plan on strengthening the emergency management system for public health security in the capital (2020-2022), Xu revealed that Beijing will establish a linkage mechanism for prevention, clinical practice, scientific research, treatment and project emergency approval. 

Beijing plans to accelerate the research and development of diagnostic reagents, drugs, vaccines and medical equipment, and support pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers in expanding their capacity to meet demands. They will also improve the layout of biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) labs. 

Xu further said that Beijing will strengthen the supportive role of new technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, 5G and the Internet of Things in epidemic monitoring and analysis, virus tracing, prevention, control and treatment.