Push Admin

Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine remained active vs S. Africa variant, effect reduced - study

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>BEIJING — Two COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese companies including Sinopharm triggered immunity against a highly transmissible coronavirus variant first found in South Africa, but their effect appeared weaker, a small-sample lab study released on Tuesday showed.</p><p>Variants of the virus have stirred concern that they might weaken effects of vaccines and treatments developed prior to their emergence.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/02/03/21/uk-virus-variant-has-developed-concerning-new-mutation-in-small-number-of-cases">UK virus variant has developed concerning new mutation in small number of cases</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/08/21/taiwan-news-report-claims-sinopharm-has-73-side-effects-ph-experts-weigh-in">Taiwan news report claims Sinopharm has 73 side effects; PH experts weigh in</a></li></ul><p>Twelve serum samples each taken from recipients of two vaccines developed by a subsidiary of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and a unit of Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products retained neutralizing activity against the South African variant, their researchers said in a paper.</p><p>The paper was written by researchers from Sinopharm-affiliated Beijing Institute of Biological Products, the Institute of Microbiology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is co-developing a candidate with Zhifei unit, and two other Chinese agencies.</p><div><strong> WATCH: When will we get vaccinated vs COVID-19? | NXT</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OfxfTaUf1rI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>However, the samples&#x27; activity against the variant was weaker than against the original virus and another variant currently spreading globally, according to the <a href="https://bit.ly/3rfr2UZ">paper published</a> on website BioRxiv ahead its peer-review.</p><p>The activity reduction &quot;should be taken into account for its impact for the clinical efficacy of these vaccines,&quot; they said.</p><div><strong>RELATED STORIES: </strong></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/08/21/uk-minister-says-vaccine-might-not-work-against-safrican-variant">UK minister says vaccine might not work against S.African variant</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/31/21/fresh-data-show-toll-south-african-virus-variant-takes-on-vaccine-efficacy">Fresh data show toll South African virus variant takes on vaccine efficacy</a></li></ul><p>The Sinopharm vaccine is approved in China for general public use and is also used in several other countries including the United Arab Emirates. The Zhifei shot is in late-stage clinical trials in China and overseas.</p><p>Preliminary clinical trial data on vaccines from Novavax Inc and Johnson &amp; Johnson also showed they were significantly less effective at preventing COVID-19 in trial participants in South Africa, where the potent new variant is widespread. </p><div><strong>(Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Miyoung Kim &amp; Simon Cameron-Moore)</strong></div><div><strong> WATCH: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l9VChW6FJMk?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The paper was written by researchers from Sinopharm-affiliated Beijing Institute of Biological Products, the Institute of Microbiology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is co-developing a candidate with Zhifei unit, and two other Chinese agencies.<br /> </p>

The paper was written by researchers from Sinopharm-affiliated Beijing Institute of Biological Products, the Institute of Microbiology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is co-developing a candidate with Zhifei unit, and two other Chinese agencies.