In the latest news its been found that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has given the all go for the Phase 3 clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine which is set to be conducted at the National Institute of Health (NIH). According to the NIH, the medical facility has obtained “the formal approval from DRAP for Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Recombinant Novel Covid-19 Vaccine Adenovirus Type 5 vector (Ad5-nCoV) developed by CanSinoBio and Beijing Institute of Biotechnology China [BIB]”, This will be the first ever phase 3 clinical trial for any vaccine in Pakistan.
Moreover, the Chinese biopharmaceutical, CanSino Biologics Inc, are already one step ahead in conducting the trial in various various countries which include China, Russia, Chile, Argentina, and shortly in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, all in all ensuring that the vaccine is a viable option for a global rollout to help tackle the disease. In addition, the Phase III clinical trial of CanSinoBIO Ad5-nCoV in Pakistan shall be carried out and supervised under the NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Aamer Ikram after AJM Pharma Pvt Ltd CEO Adnan Hussain signed an agreement to collaborate with the health facility in Islamabad. AJM Pharma’s Prof Hasan Abbas Zaheer will be the trials’ national coordinator, with Maj Gen Ikram to head the role of the principal investigator.
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As per the latest statement by the NIH, the said trials shall be carried out in Karachi’s Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) and The Indus Hospital, Lahore’s Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) and University of Health Sciences (UHS), and Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, all hospitals which hold a more than decent reputation in Pakistan. The statement read, “A national Clinical Research Organization, Dimension Research CRO & SMO will monitor the progress of the clinical trial and also coordinate with the global CRO appointed by CanSinoBIO to ensure uniformity of the trial in all the participating countries and centres,”.
It further added that “The NBC of PHRC has given the ethical approval for the study,” it said further, noting that the trials were already approved by the US registry of worldwide clinical trials, the ClinicalTrials.gov. The NIH, in this regard, underlined that the trials’ progress would be monitored by the global scientific community, “can open the door towards public-private partnership”, and “will help to enhance indigenous vaccine manufacturing capabilities of Pakistan to achieve self-reliance and sufficiency”. Over the last few months, CamSinoBIO have made rapid advances in developing a suitable vaccine to cordon of the novel coronavirus disease, using technology acquired form Canada and China. It also became the first company in the world to initiate human trials and hopefully there hardwork will pay off and we will have on our hands a suitable vaccine in the next couple of months.
