Thai scientists begin COVID-19 vaccine trials on monkeys

Thailand hopes to have the coronavirus vaccine into production by next year

Published: May 25, 2020 10:30 Reuters and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Digital Content Editor

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Thailand has began testing a vaccine against the coronavirus on monkeys after positive trials in mice, an official said. Image Credit: AFP

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Thailand's minister of higher education, science, and research and innovation, Suvit Maesincee, said researchers had moved testing of the vaccine to monkeys and hoped to have a "clearer outcome" of its effectiveness by September. | A lab technician holds a bottle containing results for COVID-19 vaccine testing at Chula Vaccine Research Center. Image Credit: AP

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"This project is for the human race, not just Thais. The prime minister (Prayuth Chan-ocha) has outlined a policy that we must develop a vaccine and join the world community workforce on this," Suvit told reporters. | A laboratory technician holding a dose of a COVID-19 novel coronavirus vaccine candidate ready for trial on monkeys. Image Credit: AFP

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Thailand, the first country outside China to detect a case of the coronavirus in January, wants to be one of the first to have a vaccine ready for use, Taweesin said. | A lab technician working for COVID-19 vaccine testing at Chula Vaccine Research Center. Image Credit: AP

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More than 100 potential vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, are being developed, including several in clinical trials, but the World Health Organization in April had warned that a vaccine would take at least 12 months. | A tray with doses of a COVID-19 novel coronavirus vaccine candidate ready for trial on monkeys. Image Credit: AFP

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U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc's experimental COVID-19 vaccine, the first to be tested in the United States, produced protective antibodies in a small group of healthy volunteers, according to very early data released by the company. Image Credit: AFP

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Drugmakers such as Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Inc , which is working with Germany's BioNTech SE, are also working to develop vaccines for the novel coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP

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A laboratory technician holding a dose of a COVID-19 novel coronavirus vaccine candidate ready for trial on monkeys. Image Credit: AFP

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Suvit said that Thailand has started reserving two manufacturers for its vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. | Laboratory technicians preparing for a demonstration of a COVID-19 novel coronavirus vaccine candidate. Image Credit: AFP

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The Thai vaccine uses messenger RNA, which prompts body cells to produce antigens, molecules on the surface of viruses, that spur the immune system into action. | A laboratory baby monkey being examined by employees at the National Primate Research Center of Thailand at Chulalongkorn University in Saraburi. Image Credit: AFP

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The Thai vaccine is being developed by the National Vaccine Institute, the Department of Medical Science and Chulalongkorn University's vaccine research centre. Image Credit: AFP

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