Saudi Arabia starts clinical trials to produce coronavirus vaccine

First stage of COVID-19 clinical trials

Saudi Arabia’s Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU) started the first phase of clinical trials, supported by the Ministry of Education, to produce a COVID-19 vaccine, after the laboratory experiments proved their effectiveness.

The university signed a contract with one of the largest specialized companies in the UK and Sweden, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The deal includes the fermentation phase, risk assessment, safety and quality of the plasmid material, as well as the production of the first batch of the vaccine in accordance with international standards and requirements of international food and drug authorities.

In addition, the university signed a contract with a center that specializes in clinical trials, to work with the IAU's research team in preparation and supervision of the protocol of the clinical stage, as well as providing volunteers to participate in clinical studies and obtaining the necessary approvals from the specialized food and drug authorities. The center will also participate with the IAU's team in preparing the project’s interim and final reports, whether statistical or descriptive.

According to data compiled by Argaam, the IAU's research team successfully developed the first Saudi coronavirus vaccine.