Iranian COVID Vaccine Ready for 2nd Phase of Clinical Trials
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is going to test its first homegrown vaccine for the coronavirus on a larger group of volunteers in the second phase of clinical trials, a researcher said.
Minoo Mohraz told Tasnim on Saturday that the second stage of human trials with the coronavirus vaccine financed by the Barakat Foundation of Iran will begin on March 14.
Around 400 volunteers aged between 18 and 75 will get the vaccine in the second phase of clinical trials, the Iranian physician and researcher noted, adding that none of the 56 people that have received the COV Iran Barkat vaccine in the first phase has shown any symptoms.
Around 20,000 volunteers are planned to be injected in the third phase of human trials.
In February, the Headquarters for Executing the Order of Imam Khomeini, the institution that has developed the vaccine, said the first stage of human trials has produced promising results as the vaccine is one hundred percent effective against the mutated variant of coronavirus found in the UK.
The foundation noted that three companies in Lebanon, Syria and Venezuela are also willing to purchase the Iranian vaccine.
Earlier in February, the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute unveiled the second Iranian vaccine for the coronavirus, administered via injection or inhalation.
Cov-Pars is a vaccine based on recombinant protein that can be injected or inhaled.
Officials say Iran will receive around 16 million doses of vaccines through the World Health Organization's COVAX program, import more than 25 million doses from abroad, and produce 25 million other doses inside the country.
