존슨앤드존슨, 9월부터 코로나 백신 3상 시행...대상자 6만명
Researchers around the world are reporting that they're getting closer and closer to a COVID-19 vaccine.
A pharmaceutical unit of the American firm Johnson & Johnson says it could have one ready by early next year.
That company, which operates all around the world, is called Janssen.
Choi Won-jong spoke with one of its representatives for the Asian region.
Around the world, people are desperate to know when a vaccine for COVID-19 will be available.
Dr. Paul Kershaw, the Vice President of Medical Affairs for Asia Pacific from pharmaceutical company 'Janssen', says possible vaccine batches could be ready as early as the first quarter of 2021.
"We expect depending on the early results that will emerge from those phase 3 studies to be able to have vaccines available for use by the public in the beginning of 2021."
Johnson and Johnson announced on Thursday that it plans to begin its phase 3 trial in September with up to 60-thousand people.
But this particular vaccine development is different from others.
It's called AdVac technology, and this is how it works.
Scientists create an inactivated virus that carries what's called a 'spike protein'.
This creates a robust immune response that protects against virus exposure.
"The reason the spike protein is so important, and a lot of other companies are choosing that same protein. It's because it seems to generate a robust immune response. It seems to be relatively well-conserved."
Worldwide distribution can follow once the trials are completed.
However, Dr. Kershaw says it's not about which country gets the vaccine first, but who needs it the most...like health care workers and those who live in active COVID-19 hot spots, including South Korea.
"We are working very diligently with countries all around the world including S. Korean gov't. We are currently having discussion with gov't officials to talk about how we can quickly make the vaccine available."
The company has set a maximum price of 10 U.S. dollars per dose during the emergency pandemic period.
Although it will depend on clinical results, Janssen is pursuing a single dose measurement... meaning hopefully one vaccine shot will provide enough immunity for people to last during the pandemic period.
He added that this COVID-19 vaccine development is a unique collaboration between companies and governments, and unlike anything that he has seen before. He's hoping this remains the case even after the pandemic ends.
Choi Won-jong, Arirang News.
#COVID19 #development #vaccine
📣 Arirang News(Facebook) : [ Ссылка ]
📣 Arirang News(Twitter) : [ Ссылка ]
📣 News Center(YouTube) : [ Ссылка ]
