Ozbekistan launchs international clinical trials of second-generation coronavirus vaccine

On November 7, the clinical trials of a new recombinant protein vaccine against the Omicron-Delta strains (the second generation of a new vaccine against coronavirus) were initiated simultaneously in Uzbekistan and China, reports Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

At the official launch ceremony of clinical trials, the Minister of Innovative Development Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov said that they were pleased that the second-generation vaccine against coronavirus has been created in cooperation, research and clinical trials are being carried out.  “We believe that cooperation between Uzbekistan and China on second-generation vaccines will be successfully completed and will open up new opportunities for Uzbekistan and other countries. We received permission from the Ethics Committee to start trials of the second generation vaccine in Uzbekistan, and today we are launching research and clinical trials with you. I would like to emphasize once again that we express our gratitude to our Government, the head of state, as well as international organizations, companies, embassies and scientists for creating the opportunity to conduct such advanced technological research in Uzbekistan. We believe that the advent of next-generation vaccines in the future is not only the result of scientific collaboration, but also lays the foundation for all future collaboration”  the Minister said.

Academician Gao Fu emphasized that through the bilateral efforts of China and Uzbekistan, the first generation of the new coronavirus vaccine ZF2001 or ZF-UZ-VAC-2001 has been successfully developed, and more than 300 million doses have been used worldwide, which has made a great contribution to the fight against global epidemic. The second generation of the new coronavirus vaccine is a bivalent protein subunit Omicron-Delta vaccine. Compared to the first-generation vaccine based on a prototype virus, the new vaccine elicits a broader and stronger immune response, covers the currently widespread sub-variants of Omicron, and makes an important contribution to the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic during the rise of Omicron.
“ANSO will make every effort to support overseas clinical trials of the second-generation vaccine,” said Cao Jinghua, director of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. – This cooperation will serve to further strengthen the national image, will serve to develop friendly ties between China and Uzbekistan and cooperation in the field of medicine. At the same time, these tests have also stepped up the work of the country in the framework of the One Belt, One Road initiative.

The second-generation protein vaccine antigens are for the Delta and Omicron mutated strains of the new coronavirus, which are expected to provide better protection than the Omicron mutated strains of the new coronavirus that are currently prevalent. As the new mutation of the Omicron strain continues around the world, the governments of China and Uzbekistan hope to create an effective and durable protective vaccine against the COVID-19 pandemic.