A Chinese based pharmaceutical company called Sinovac Biotech is to conduct clinical trials on a potential COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia.
According to reports from Jakarta, a spokesperson for the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed reports that the possible vaccine had arrived at a state-owned pharmaceutical agent named PT Bio Farma.
“The vaccine material arrived on Sunday. It has been delivered to Bio Farma,” spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah was quoted as saying, adding that “our short-term strategy is to ensure access to a [COVID-19] vaccine as soon as it is ready for mass production through international cooperation.”
“Indonesia has also set up a national consortium as a long-term strategy to ensure we can produce a vaccine independently,” he continued.
Meanwhile, according to Indonesian media reports, at a press conference on July 16th, Bio Farma president Honesti Basyir said that the company was fully prepared to initiate a ‘Phase 3’ clinical trial in Indonesia ahead of authorities in Jakarta giving the green light on usage among the general public.
“It is anticipated that the preliminary result of this Phase 3 clinical trial can be submitted for emergency use authorization by the BPOM (Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency) by the first quarter of 2021,” Honesti is reported as saying.
The Phase 3 trial in Indonesia will involve nearly 1,600 volunteers and be funded by Bio Farma.
“It is evidence that Sinovac has implemented a robust quality-management system,” Honesti closed, highlighting the company’s status as one of the first to conduct Phase 3 clinical testing outside China.
