Viet Nam may approve at least one domestic COVID-19 vaccine by this year’s end, said Nguyen Ngo Quang, Deputy Director General of Science, Technology and Training under the Ministry of Health.

Nguyen made the above statement on Tuesday afternoon at the Government’s meeting to review progress of research, technological transfer and clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine and drugs.

Nano Covax, the first domestic vaccine that got approval for clinical trials in Viet Nam, has entered the third phase of human trials, making Viet Nam the first country in Southeast Asia to reach the final trial phase.

The vaccine, developed by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC (Nanogen) based on recombinant DNA/protein technology, is currently the most promising candidate among domestic vaccines. 

Covivac, another indigenous vaccine, has been developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC). It is now under the second phase of human trials.

Last month, Viet Nam started clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine ARCT-154 developed by California-based Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc, which transferred the technology to Vinbiocare, a unit of Viet Nam's biggest private conglomerate Vingroup.

The clinical trials will be carried out in three phases with the participation of 21,000 volunteers, with more than 100 volunteer for the first phase, 300 for the next phase and 20,600 for the final phase./.