Shionogi & Co readies a COVID-19 vaccine trial at the year-end. If the plan becomes successful, it may be one of Japan’s first domestically-produced vaccines to hit the market.

The Japanese drugmaker collaborated with three Japanese universities in licensing to start mass testing that offers speedy results than previous options. According to its management, the company received a subsidy of ¥37.3 billion or $352 million from the Japanese government. 

Shionogi aims to produce over 30 million doses enough to vaccinate 30 million people by the end of 2021. Such trial is bigger than the inoculation plan by an Osaka-based drug maker, AnGes Inc, which aims to ready its doses by March 2021.

According to Isao Teshirogi, Shionogi’s President and CEO, the company plan to start Phase 1 trial by December and move into Phase 2 by January. Afterwards, the plan is to apply for a tentative approval from the government. The company’s management said that while it lags behind other international vaccine makers who are conducting mass trials, it uses a confirmed platform to become Japan’s largest homegrown-vaccine maker. Sanofi SA and Novavax of France are using the same process for their anti-COVID-19 drugs. Mr Teshirogi noted that Phase 3 could be made overseas as there are not enough COVID-19 cases in Japan.

“I believe that our recombinant protein vaccine and efficient method acquired more data on safety and efficacy than other methods,“ Teshirogi said.

Teshirogi further stated that new methods of mRNA vaccines may be a solution but currently, no one knows the cure.

Prime minister Yoshihide Suga pledged a vaccine for the population by mid-2021. The government already made deals for producing millions of doses with global companies such as Pfizer Inc, AstraZeneca PLC and Moderna.

Shionogi & Co is known for developing Crestor, an anti-cholesterol medicine, several antibacterials (oxacephem-class antibiotics) and antivirals (HIV-1 integrase inhibitor Dolutegravir and the anti-flu Xofluza baloxavir marboxil).

As of October 30, 2020, Japan’s cases comprise 99,674 total active, 90,624 recovered and 1,748 deaths.

References:

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3. Topics, Head. "Japan's Shionogi Readies COVID-19 Vaccine For December Trial: CEO". Head Topics, 2020, https://headtopics.com/us/japan-s-shionogi-readies-covid-19-vaccine-for-december-trial-ceo-16547650. Accessed 29 Oct 2020.
4. Post, Financial. "Japan's Shionogi Readies COVID-19 Vaccine For December Trial- CEO | Financial Post". Financialpost.Com, 2020, https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/japans-shionogi-readies-covid-19-vaccine-for-december-trial-ceo-2. Accessed 29 Oct 2020.
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