Immunogenicity and safety of a recombinant adenovirus type-5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine in healthy adults aged 18 years or older: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial - The Lancet

Immunogenicity and safety of a recombinant adenovirus type-5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine in healthy adults aged 18 years or older: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial - The Lancet

CanSino's Covid-19 vaccine Phase 2 data are out

The Covid-19 vaccine candidate from CanSino Biologics induced immune response against the novel coronavirus in patients, according to Phase 2 results published in The Lancet.

Co-developed with China's Academy of Military Medical Sciences, CanSino's candidate, Ad5-nCOV, uses a weakened version of a common cold virus, Ad5, to prime the immune system to know how to fight SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

Consistent with findings from its Phase 1 study, the vaccine was able to elicit an immune response to Ad5. But researchers said it appeared the response in older patients, particularly those older than 55, was inadequate with only one injection.

"This population might be more tolerant of higher dose or a booster dose regimen of the Ad5-vectored Covid-19 vaccine than people who are young and naive to Ad5. Pre-existing anti-Ad5 immunity is considered to be the biggest obstacle for the candidate Ad5-vectored Covid-19 vaccine to overcome," the researchers noted.

As STAT has reported, some experts have said that while CanSino's vaccine may not be effective for the older population, it may still be useful for children.

The Ebola vaccine maker said it is planning an international multicenter Phase 3 trial for Ad5-nCoV to further evaluate the vaccine.

Meanwhile, state-backed Sinopharm told state media that its vaccine could be ready by the end of this year. The company previously expected to roll out its vaccine in 2021, as the lack of local infections made it difficult to recruit patients in its trials.

Earlier this month, Sinopharm began its Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial in the United Arab Emirates. Sinopharm's chairman, Liu Jingzhen, expects to finish late-stage human testing within about three months, according to Reuters.