Hong Kong last month suspended sales of three spice blends made by India's MDH and an Everest spice mix for fish curry
asia2 hours ago
Moderna Inc's vaccine against Covid-19 could be rolled out by the end of this year,US officials said on Monday, after the drugmaker announced the start of a 30,000-subject trial to demonstrate it is safe and effective, the final hurdle prior to approval by global regulators.
The trial is the first such late-stage study under the Trump administration's program to speed development of measures against the novel coronavirus, adding to hope that an effective vaccine will help end the pandemic. Shares of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna rose 9 per cent.
Moderna has received nearly $1 billion from the US government, which is helping to bankroll several vaccine candidates under its Operation Warp Speed programme.
More than 150 coronavirus vaccine candidates are in various stages of development, with some two dozen prospects having advanced to human testing.
"Having a safe and effective vaccine distributed by the end of 2020 is a stretch goal, but it's the right goal for the American people," National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins said in a release announcing the start of the large Phase III trial.
Manufacturers are ramping up production while testing is underway in order to respond as soon as possible to virus, which is still spreading rapidly around the world. Covid-19 has killed more about 650,000 people worldwide and battered economies.
Moderna could have tens of millions of doses ready when and if the vaccine is deemed safe and effective, Collins told reporters on a call.
The large late-stage trial is designed to evaluate the safety of Moderna's mRNA-1273 vaccine and determine if it can prevent symptomatic Covid-19 after two doses.
Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease official, said a readout from the trial could come by November, December, or even earlier. Fauci said he was "not particularly concerned" about the vaccine's safety after seeing data from earlier, smaller trials.
The study also seeks to determine whether the vaccine can prevent coronavirus-related deaths.
Trial volunteers will receive two injections about 28 days apart of either 100 micrograms of mRNA-1273 or a placebo.
Results of a small early-stage study published earlier this month showed volunteers who got two doses of Moderna's vaccine had levels of virus-killing antibodies that exceeded the average seen in people who had recovered from COVID-19.
Moderna said it remains on track to deliver about 500 million doses a year, and possibly up to 1 billion doses a year, beginning 2021.
Hong Kong last month suspended sales of three spice blends made by India's MDH and an Everest spice mix for fish curry
asia2 hours ago
He was joined by the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah as well as other worshippers
uae2 hours ago
After being battered by the prime minister in the two last general elections, opposition parties are hopeful of a better performance
asia2 hours ago
In the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed stressed on peace based on 'two-state solution' for Israel and Palestine
uae2 hours ago
Pakistan have not yet named their final 15-man squad for June's T20 World Cup
cricket3 hours ago
Some riders have also opted to stay home, heeding authorities' advice
weather3 hours ago
Ely Buendia, the band's vocalist and guitarist, shares a teaser of their upcoming shows
entertainment4 hours ago
The prices had slipped below $2,300 per ounce on Wednesday evening but recovered later in the day
uae6 hours ago