TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki announced on Monday that 4 companies in the country have managed to end coronavirus vaccine testing on animals and are ready to conduct humans trials.
“To supply the coronavirus vaccine, we follow three methods: first is to participate in COVAX with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), the second method is cooperation with Pasteur Institute and the countries which are active at international level to produce vaccine, and finally with the efforts and seriousness of my colleagues in the knowledge-based companies and Razi Institute, where good measures have already been adopted,” Namaki said, addressing a joint virtual meeting with the WHO officials on Monday.
“Fortunately, 8 companies out of 12 firms which had taken good steps to produce the vaccine are in a desirable situation and 4 of them are entering the phase of testing coronavirus vaccine on humans,” he added.
Spokesman of Irans Food and Drug Organization Kianoush Jahanpour had announced on Friday that five Iranian vaccines have been put on the list of WHO COVID-19 candidates.
"Some five Iranian COVID19 vaccines have been put on the list of the World Health Organization (WHO)," Jahanpour wrote on his Twitter account.
Several groups in Iran have been carrying out research and trials to come up with a vaccine for the virus, including a partnership between Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, the Pasteur Institute of Iran and several start-up companies.
Reports show the Iranian vaccines have shown promise in early stages of the trials, including in tests on animals.
