Sinovac may get Phase III trial results of COVID-19 vaccine by December, executive says

[November 20, 2020]  JAKARTA (Reuters) - Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac Biotech <SVA.O> could have the results of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine from late-stage clinical trials as soon as next month, an executive said on Friday.

Sinovac's CoronaVac is in large late-stage trials in Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey. Preliminary results of early to mid-stage trials showed this week that it triggered a quick immune response but lower levels of antibodies than those seen in people who have recovered from COVID-19.

"Phase III is now running quite well," Weining Meng, senior director of Sinovac, told the Global Town Hall 2020 conference held online. "I guess maybe next month we'll have data available."

The results follow news this month from Pfizer Inc <PFE.N> and BioNTech <22UAy.DE> and from Moderna <MRNA.O>, as well as from Russia, of experimental vaccines proving more than 90% effective, based on interim data from large, late-stage trials.

Brazil and Indonesia are considering CoronaVac for inoculations in the coming months.

Meng said the company's manufacturing deals with local partners, including Indonesia's PT Bio Farma, will help it lower production costs and accelerate delivery once its vaccine gets regulatory approval.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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