FILE PHOTO: Small bottles labeled with “Vaccine” stickers are found near a medical syringe in front of the words “Coronavirus COVID-19” in this illustration taken on April 10, 2020. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian health regulator Anvisa approved clinical trials on Friday of a possible coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac (SVA.O), according to an official publication of the gazette.
The study, first announced on June 11, is led by the Butantan Institute, a research center funded by the state of Sao Paulo. The agreement with Sinovac includes not only trials, but also the transfer of technology to produce the potential vaccine locally.
On June 29, Sao Paulo state governor Joao Doria said 9,000 volunteers have already signed up to test the vaccine against COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.
The tests will be carried out by 12 research centers in six Brazilian states: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Brasilia, Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, according to Doria.
Anvisa’s approval comes after Brazil topped 1.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to data from the Health Ministry, the second-worst outbreak after the United States. The number of deaths increased by 1,290 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number to 63,174, according to the data.
Reports by Eduardo Simoes and Gabriela Mello; Editing by Christian Schmollinger
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