LAHORE: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) is learnt to have accorded approval of Phase-III clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine developed in collaboration with a Chinese company. Trial of the vaccine would begin from September.

Under the supervision of National Institute of Health (NIH), the vaccine trial would be started and about 8000 volunteers were selected for this purpose. Clinical trials of the vaccine in Pakistan will help identify those drugs which can be more helpful for treatment of Covid-19 patients.

The first trial in Pakistan would be conducted at Indus Hospital, Karachi, for which volunteers, both male and female, have registered, sources said.

"These trials would speed up the availability of vaccines at reasonable prices in Pakistan and also enhance the country's ability to develop vaccines locally."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020