The Food and Drug Administration has given Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. permission to test a potential COVID-19 vaccine on humans. The company is the third Taiwanese firm to get permission to start phase one clinical trials so far.
Testing will take place on around 100 human volunteers over a two-month period, with results expected in November or December. Researchers will look at the vaccine’s effectiveness as well as any side effects it might have.
If successful, a second clinical trial will begin. Food and Drug Administration official Wu Ming-mei says that if the vaccine proves effective in this second stage, it is possible that it will receive emergency authorization to go onto the market. However, Wu says this will only be done if the vaccine is also shown to be safe.