Japan's COVID Vaccine Sprint Depends on Partners

Japan's first clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine is underway at Osaka University Hospital. Some of the small-scale results, along with those from another university, are expected within the next month and will determine whether a larger clinical trial can be held in November 2020, involving 500 people, reported Nikkei Asia on October 13, 2020.

Takeda Pharmaceutical, Japan's largest pharmaceutical maker, chose not to develop a coronavirus vaccine on its own, deciding to either manufacture or import and distribute those of two U.S. drug developers, such as Novavax and Moderna.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been just 1,679 fatalities reported amongst Japan's 126 million residents, as of October 21, 2020.