A coronavirus vaccine being developed in Iran could reach Phase III trials in June, says a senior Iranian official.

Mostafa Qanei, from Iranian presidency�s office for science and technology, said on Thursday that the third phase of the trial, which normally monitors the impacts and effectiveness of the vaccine on a relatively large population, would be carried out in a limited form in the country.

Qanei expressed hope that the two earlier phases of the vaccine testing would fully end by the end of the Iranian year in March.
�For the next (Iranian) year we have the hope that we could start the human injection on a�certain level,� he was quoted as saying by the ILNA news agency.
Iranian health ministry officials have declared that they would place orders for foreign-made vaccines once they have passed effectiveness and safety tests.

That comes as the government has relied on home-grown efforts to combat COVID-19 as its main strategy since the disease was first reported in Iran in late February.

Several groups have been carrying out research and trials to come up with a vaccine for the virus, including a partnership between Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, the Pasteur Institute of Iran and several start-up companies.

Reports show the Iranian�vaccines�have shown promise�in early stages of the trials, including in tests on animals.

Qanei said the Iranian-made vaccine would be significantly cheaper than those produced in major economies, including several brands being developed in China.

�If we view the Chinese vaccine as having the lowest price, it will be $12 but the Iranian vaccine will cost us $7,� he said.

 

Source: Press TV