A new coronavirus vaccine that Adelaide scientists are developing has passed the first phase of clinical trials and should be available in “three to four months.”
Called COVAX-19, having been injected into 40 volunteers earlier this month, the drug was found to be safe and developed an immune response in participants.
Developed by Vaxine company and Flinders University researchers, the vaccine is Australia’s first candidate to clear phase one trials.
It’s also one of only a few that has gone past the world’s first phase of clinical trials.
In an interview with Sunrise, Professor Nikolai Petrvsky said:
“Safety data from the clinical trials shows the vaccine isn’t showing any problems at all and is inducing the right type of immune response.”
“Now we do much bigger clinical trials in a larger number of individuals to prove the vaccine is working,” he added.
The professor said he is already negotiating phase three of the study, which will see up to 50,000 volunteers given the drug, with the UK and Canadian governments in support.
“That’s the final step before making it available to everyone.”
Petrovsky says the medication could be available to the general public within “three to four months” if all goes well.
He said his appeal for assistance financing the prosecution had been “knocked back” by the Australian Government.