Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 10 December, a ceremony was held at the Ministry of Innovative Development to mark the start of the third stage of international clinical trials of a new recombinant vaccine against coronavirus in Uzbekistan. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Innovation.

The Ministry of Innovative Development and the Ministry of Health have launched the third phase of clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine developed by Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. based on the development of the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

With the assistance of the Uzbek Embassy in China, Zhifei delivered 6,000 test vaccines (50% real vaccine, 50% placebo), 12,000 PCR tests, 8,000 antibody tests and all auxiliary materials (syringes, masks, glasses, cryovials, pregnancy tests) to Uzbekistan.

A total of 5,000 volunteers were selected for clinical trials. Given the ethical aspects of the process, it was decided that the identity of the volunteers would not be disclosed.

In turn, 8 specialists from Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd, together with employees of the Center for Advanced Technologies under the Ministry of Innovative Development and the Research Institute of Virology of the Ministry of Health, conducted vaccination trainings for doctors and nurses of polyclinics, where volunteers will be tested for vaccination.

A vaccine developed by Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd is a genetically engineered coronavirus surface antigen protein that is safe compared to both adenovirus and inactivated vaccines. That is, a vaccine in the form of a recombinant protein is obtained by artificial reproduction of a small part of the virus on the basis of high technologies. After vaccination, a genetically engineered protein initiates the production of antibodies in the body.

The vaccine has demonstrated a relatively high safety profile in phase I and II clinical trials. Also, the safety of the vaccine and its compliance with the declared parameters was confirmed in the course of laboratory studies conducted by specialists of the Pharmaceutical Committee of Uzbekistan. Moreover, prior to the start of the third phase of the trial, more than twenty family members of the Ministry of Innovative Development leadership were vaccinated with the first dose of the recombinant vaccine imported from China.