Indonesia Expat
Featured News Sports/Health

Human Trials for COVID-19 Vaccine to Start in Indonesia Next Month

Chinese Vaccine Arrives in Bandung

PT Kalbe Farma Tbk has signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean company Genexine, Inc., to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.

The clinical trial for the vaccine is planned to commence in June 2020.

“The cooperation in developing the COVID-19 vaccine is Kalbe’s contribution to helping the government overcome the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia,” said the Director of PT Kalbe Farma Tbk, Sie Djohan.

Kalbe and Genexine have agreed to conduct a GX-19 clinical trial in Indonesia, namely the development of a DNA vaccine against the new coronavirus by the consortium. The grouping consists of Genexine, Binex, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), GenNBio, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), and Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH).

Sie Djohan said the vaccine research had already been conducted on primates and was proven to produce antibodies capable of neutralising new coronaviruses. Therefore, the next stage will be safety tests on humans.

Also Read What Vaccines Should Have Your Extra Attention in Indonesia? 

“Kalbe hopes that, through the research and development of a COVID-19 vaccine, it can quickly get results so that the availability of vaccines in Indonesia can be guaranteed,” said Sie Djohan.

He added that Kalbe will partner with relevant government agencies to collaborate in developing the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure the research process runs smoothly and the results can be utlised for the benefit of the health of people in Indonesia.

Kalbe Farma is cooperating with Genexine to form PT Kalbe Genexine Biologic (KGBio), a joint venture company in developing and making raw materials for biotechnology drugs in Indonesia.

Source: Tempo

Image: Kompas

Related posts

Memorable Valentine’s Day Escape with Grand Hyatt Jakarta

Indonesia Expat

Must Try Indonesian Food – Martabak

Indonesia Expat

Top Five Hidden Gems in Indonesia

Razi Faruqi Pasha

Sulawesi: Soldiers Ordered to Fire on Looters

Indonesia Expat

Get to Know A for Effort

Indonesia Expat

Traditional Balinese Wedding

Indonesia Expat