Vietnamese scientists are expected to conduct human trials of a locally-made Covid-19 vaccine this month on a group of 60 volunteers, according to the health ministry.

The vaccine has been researched and produced by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Ltd. Co. (Nanogen), one of four companies in Vietnam that are studying Covid-19 vaccines. The company’s vaccine is expected to be the first to reach the stage of human trials.

Vietnam may test Covid-19 vaccine on human in November

The vaccine has been tested on animals and was also checked by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said Nguyen Ngo Quang, deputy head of the Administration of Science, Technology and Training under the Ministry of Health.

The ministry is currently urging Nanogen to ready the vaccine for human trials right in November, Mr. Quang informed, adding that the ministry required strict compliance with regulations on ensuring safety for volunteers and ethical practices in biomedical research.

Some 187 companies around the world are developing Covid-19 vaccines, of which 38 are being tested on humans. Vietnam’s health ministry and scientists are hoping to have a commercially-viable Covid-19 vaccine in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Vietnam has also registered to receive priority access to a Covid-19 vaccine when it is available on the market.

Vietnam currently has four Covid-19 vaccines under research by Nanogen, Vabiotech, Polyvac and the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC).

Another Vietnamese company, Hanoi-based Vaccine and Biological Production Company No. 1 (VABIOTECH), has also tested Covid-19 vaccines on rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Trials are expected to last around three months. Earlier, VABIOTECH tested Covid-19 vaccines on mice.

Vietnam has recorded 1,192 Covid-19 cases so far, of them 89 are still active. A total of 35 have succumbed to the disease, many being elderly patients with underlying conditions like diabetes or kidney failure. No community transmission has been recorded in two months.