M’sian mRNA Vaccine Against Covid-19 Under Development

PUTRAJAYA, June 21 (Bernama) – Malaysia is developing a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 using the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology. Health Minister, Dr Adham Baba, said in a joint press conference with National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, Monday that the Malaysian Institute for Medical Research (IMR) started developing it with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in November 2020. “The original SARS-CoV-2 virus and variants are currently in the cloning stage,” he said. He said that the development process involves testing in small and big animals (pre-clinical stage) first, then three phases of clinical trials in humans before vaccine registration and manufacturing can begin. Further details coming soon. -- BERNAMA