CanSino's Ad5-nCoV will leverage an attenuated adenovirus vector to induce genetic material and activate the immune response in human body

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China approves CanSino Biologics’ potential Covid-19 vaccine. (Credit: Willfried Wende from Pixabay)

China’s National Intellectual Property Administration has reportedly granted patent approval for a potential Covid-19 Vaccine dubbed Ad5-nCoV, developed by  biotech company CanSino Biologics and .

Chinese news agency ‘People’s Daily’ reported that CanSino Biologics  filed an application with the CNPA on 18 March 2020, and received the approval for Ad5-nCoV on 11 August 2020.

CanSino’s Ad5-nCoV will leverage an attenuated adenovirus vector (common cold virus) to induce genetic material from the novel coronavirus and activate the immune response in the human body to produce antibodies against coronavirus’s spike protein.

Based on current evidence, and its potential for mass production, adenovirus vector vaccine is said to be a favourable option for its safety and potency against Covid-19.

The company has conducted Phase 2 clinical trial that enrolled 508 patients, and a research published in the Lancet demonstrated that the vaccine showed positive results in Phase 2 trial, with superior safety and immune responses than the Phase 1 trial.

The potential Covid-19 vaccine Ad5-nCoV vaccine was previously approved for use by Chinese military, following the completion of Phase-1 and Phase 2 clinical trials.

CanSino Biologics begun the Phase 3 trial of Ad5-nCoV in Russia

CanSino has planned the Phase 3 trials to be conducted overseas, in Russia, Brazil, Chile and Saudi Arabia, and enroll more number of participants.

The Phase 3 trials are expected to answer several questions on the vaccine candidate, including the durability of the protection, optimal dosage to generate immune response, and various host-specific differences.

Ad5-nCov is first Chinese vaccine to enter into human testing in March 2020, reported Reuters.

According to Saudi’s news agency SPA, the company is planning to conduct a Phase 3 trial in Saudi Arabia to test the vaccine, in combination with placebo. The trial will enrol 5,000 participants and will be conducted in the cities of Riyadh, Dammam and Mecca.

Reuters reported that according to registration records, a Phase-3 trial of Ad5-nCoV has begun in Russia, and CanSino Biologics has expanded testing abroad.