Sinovac to apply for clinical trial of Delta-specific vaccine in Q3: general manager

Sinovac plans to submit clinical application materials for its inactivated COVID-19 vaccine especially for the Delta variant to authorities in the third season this year, reported the Global Times.

Gao Qiang, general manager with Sinovac, said the company has completed preclinical research on the Delta variant as well as the Gamma variant, and it will submit application materials for clinical research in the near future.

Gao noted that protection against the Delta strain by the new vaccine is expected to be no less than existing vaccines, and it will take a two- or three-shot path to enhance immunity.

When asked if there is a rollout timetable, Gao revealed that matters to do with R&D will follow China's regulations, and clinical research will be initiated after attaining approvals, results of which will determine if such vaccines can go on the market. 

Gao also said the firm has completed study on the booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, known as the CoronaVac, and the inoculation of the third shot is as safe as the first two, and could significantly enhance neutralizing antibodies within a week.