Saudi Arabia Plans Human Trials of 'CanSino Vaccine' in 3 Cities - Details 

In an effort to expedite vaccines against the deadly coronavirus, Saudi Arabia will soon begin Phase III clinical trials on at least 5,000 people for a COVID-19 vaccine. 

As per a Saudi health ministry spokesman, the vaccine developed by China's CanSino Biologics Inc, states that the company was in talks with Russia, Brazil, Chile and Saudi Arabia to launch a Phase III trial of the vaccine candidate, Ad5-nCOV.

Highlighting about the vaccine- it uses a harmless cold virus known as adenovirus type-5 (Ad5) to carry genetic material from the coronavirus into the body. As per LiveMint report, researchers said last month that CanSino's vaccine appeared to be safe and induced immune responses in most subjects.

Meanwhile, Saudi state news agency SPA claimed that they have plans to test the vaccine alongside a placebo on 5,000 volunteers and is currently preparing trials in the cities of Riyadh, Dammam and Mecca. 

Till date, CanSino's team became the first in China to move into human testing in March while other potential vaccines developed by Sinovac Biotech have already been approved for Phase III trials overseas, LiveMint further reported.