China COVID-19 Vaccine Seeks Europe's Authorization

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced today the human medicines committee had started a rolling review of CoronaVac COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell) Inactivated, developed by China-based Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. 

Clinical studies suggest that the CoronaVac vaccine triggers the production of antibodies that target SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and may help protect against the disease.

CoronaVac COVID-19 Vaccine is expected to prepare the body to defend itself against infection with the SARS-CoV-2 beta coronavirus. The vaccine contains SARS-CoV-2 that has been inactivated (killed) and cannot cause the disease. 

CoronaVac also contains an ‘adjuvant,’ a substance that helps strengthen the immune response to the vaccine. 

When a person is given the vaccine, their immune system identifies the inactivated virus as foreign and makes antibodies against it. If, later, the vaccinated person comes into contact with SARS-CoV-2, the immune system will recognize the virus and be ready to defend the body against it.

While the EMA cannot predict the overall timelines, it should take less time than normal to evaluate an eventual application because of the work done during the rolling review. And the EMA will communicate further when the marketing authorization application for the vaccine has been submitted.

Founded in Beijing during 2009, Sinovac Life Sciences is listed on NASDAQ as (SVA).