Japanese medical firm to conduct COVID-19 vaccine clinical test

Japan's medical startup Anges Inc. said Thursday it will soon begin Japan's first clinical test on humans of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, reported Xinhua.

The company said it has gained formal approval from an Osaka City University Hospital committee.

Anges said the clinical test will be held at the university hospital and the company will soon start recruiting participants for the test.

Anges said it aims at earning the government's authorization to manufacture and sell the vaccine by the spring to fall of next year.

According to the drugmaker, the vaccine it has developed will inject a genetically engineered circular DNA into the recipient that produces "spike proteins," which are a characteristic of the coronavirus. With the newly made proteins, the body's immune system will be stimulated to produce antibodies against the virus.

In the clinical examinations, Anges will divide healthy adults who have no record of COVID-19 infection into two groups of 15, one of which will be injected with larger dosages of the vaccine than the other, according to the company. Each person will be given two shots of the vaccine.

If the safety of the vaccine is confirmed, such as no major side effects, the company plans to expand the enrollment to 400 by the fall to check whether the participants have developed antibodies.

In light of the expected high demand, the Japanese government is pushing for a domestically developed vaccine as foreign ones may be limited in supply and not be able to get in Japan.