China Clears Sinopharm Vaccine for Mpox Clinical Trials

China’s top drug regulator has approved Sinopharm's mpox vaccine for clinical trials. The vaccine, developed by Shanghai Institute of Biological Products, aims to control mpox infections. China has no approved mpox vaccine yet. The National Medical Products Administration has expedited vaccine applications due to heightened public health concerns.

China's top drug regulator has given the green light to a new mpox vaccine developed by Sinopharm for clinical trials. This vaccine, produced by the Shanghai Institute of Biological Products, could be the nation's first experimental dose aimed at combating the deadly disease.

Sinopharm announced that the domestic vaccine candidate is poised to play a significant role in preventing and controlling mpox infections. As of now, China lacks an approved mpox vaccine, unlike the United States, Canada, the European Union, Japan, and Russia, which have already approved several.

In China, obtaining market approval for a vaccine typically involves three clinical trial phases, which can span years or even decades. However, the National Medical Products Administration has introduced expedited channels to facilitate the approval of novel drugs and urgently needed vaccines, according to a report by state-run China Daily.

(With inputs from agencies.)