A Chinese company, Sinopharm, has offered the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad to collaborate in the clinical trials of its ‘inactive COVID-19 vaccine’ for the mutual benefit of both countries.
The pharmaceutical company, in its letter to the NIH, said that “a successful clinical trial in Pakistan will make it one of [the] first few countries for the launch of a COVID-19 vaccine”.
NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Dr Aamer Ikram told a media outlet said that no progress was made so far, albeit, it would be a good thing for Pakistan if the trials would take place.
Dr Ikram said that there were several hurdles before the trials could begin in the country and that prior approval of the board of the ethics was needed, the publication stated.
“In the process, we developed a lot of practical insights that we would like to share with you,” the letter said.
“We will work in close collaboration with [the] NIH clinical trial team during the processing for the success of the clinical trial as this endeavour is of utmost importance for our countries in accordance with the current pandemic situation,” Sinopharm added.
