Merck starts recruitment for Covid-19 vaccine trial
[BENGALURU] US drugmaker Merck & Co has begun recruiting participants to its early-stage Covid-19 vaccine study, according to the government database clinicaltrials.gov.
The Phase One/Two trial, which is based in Belgium, aims to recruit 260 healthy participants to test the experimental vaccine V591, which it gained access to as part of its May deal for Austrian vaccine maker Themis Bioscience.
The vaccine is based on a modified measles virus that delivers bits of the new coronavirus into the body to prevent Covid-19.
Merck is late to join the race to develop a safe and effective vaccine for the fast-spreading respiratory illness as rivals Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna are already in late-stage testing.
The drugmaker is also collaborating with research non-profit IAVI on a second vaccine candidate that uses the same technology as Merck's Ebola vaccine, ERVEBO.
Earlier this month, chief executive Kenneth Frazier had said the second candidate is likely to begin trials later this year.
GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news on Friday.
REUTERS
KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Consumer & Healthcare
Sony deal for Paramount would draw added regulatory scrutiny
Lululemon to shutter Washington distribution center, lay off 128 employees
Gazelle Ventures makes cash offer for No Signboard shares at S$0.0021 apiece
P&G raises annual core profit forecast on resilient demand, price hikes
Cordlife calls for trading halt after shares sink to all-time low, pending announcement
Marina Bay Sands Q1 profit surges 51.5% to US$597 million on tourism boom