U.S. narrows list of promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates to about seven

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is narrowing its list of promising experimental coronavirus vaccines to about seven from 14, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Tuesday.

The vaccines are being given government support and funding as part of the administration’s “Operation Warp Speed”, the White House program to accelerate coronavirus vaccine development.

Earlier this month it was reported that the White House had selected five companies, including Moderna Inc, AstraZeneca Plc and Pfizer Inc, as the most likely candidates to produce a vaccine for the novel coronavirus.

As drugmakers race to develop vaccines, tests and therapies for the disease, the United States is looking to secure manufacturing capacity under “Operation Warp Speed” announced in May.

The country is planning massive clinical trials involving 100,000 to 150,000 volunteers, with the goal of delivering an effective vaccine by the end of this year. To make that deadline, the government aims to start mid-stage testing in July.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccines-usa/u-s-narrows-list-of-promising-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-to-about-seven-idUSKBN23N2CV