Japan's Meiji Holdings says drug unit started late-stage trial for COVID vaccine
13/12/2022 06:41
TOKYO, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Japan's Meiji Holdings Co
2269.T said on Tuesday its drug subsidiary had started a Phase
III trial of an mRNA-based vaccine for COVID-19.
Meiji Seika Pharma had started the late-stage trial among
780 subjects in Japan, with the test period running from
November to April 2024, Meiji said in a statement.
The trial will test the effectiveness of the vaccine,
developed by U.S.-based Arcturus Therapeutics Inc, in comparison
with the mRNA shot developed by Pfizer Inc PFE.N and BioNTech
SE 22UAy.DE .
The trial was partially funded by Japan's health ministry,
Meiji said, adding that it aimed at establishing a domestic
production system for vaccines with a government subsidy.
Japan has depended largely on imported mRNA vaccines for its
COVID inoculation campaign.
Daiichi Sankyo Co 4568.T of Japan said last month its mRNA
vaccine candidate had been successful in a trial as a booster
shot. The company plans to submit it to regulators in January
2023. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N32B0W6
(Reporting by Rocky Swift)
((rocky.swift@thomsonreuters.com;))