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With the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, attention has turned to the prospect of a vaccine. Around 35 companies and academic institutions around the world are racing to develop tests, treatments and vaccines to combat the Covid-19 virus.

Moderna Therapeutics, a Boston-based biotech company, shipped its first batch of Covid-19 vaccine to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) just 42 days after the genetic sequence of coronavirus and the first participant has been dosed in the Phase 1 study.

Researchers at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences (AMMS) in China and CanSino, a Hong Kong-listed biotech firm, have also reportedly received approval this week to launch early-stage clinical trials of a potential vaccine. The Chinese trial registration database intends to recruit 108 healthy participants between 16th March and 31st December to complete a Phase 1 test evaluating the safety of the experimental shot in humans.

In the UK, the government’s health agency has reported that they are preparing to start evaluating a drug developed by Oxford University. After the preliminary evaluation of the vaccine by the health agency, Scientists at Public Health England could allow trials for human testing well ahead of the usual time frame for drug development.

The speed of these developments is down to the efforts of China who shared the genetic material of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 in early January allowing research groups to grow the live virus and study how it attacks human cells.

Experts at the World Health Organisation have said that they expect to introduce a fully tested and approved vaccine to the market no sooner than the middle of 2021. Currently, the focus of testing is on the prevention of the virus and identifying combat measures to curb the spread.

There have been significant restrictions announced with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic, however a large portion of our clients are still continuing with their recruitment plans. If you have experience in Comparator Sourcing or Supply, please do get in touch as two industry-leading clients are looking to hire a Head of Department and several Account Manager positions.

If you would like to discuss the latest opportunities in clinical or you are a business with a talent requirement, please do not hesitate to contact me by emailing i.marland@x4lifeciences.co.uk.

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