Iran begins first human trial of locally made virus vaccine

first study of safety and effectiveness of a coronavirus vaccine in Iran began Tuesday, state TV reported, with dozens due to receive domestically developed shot in hardest-hit country in Middle East.

vaccine, produced by Shifa Pharmed, part of a state-owned pharmaceutical conglomerate, is first in country to reach human trials. President Hassan Rouhani has said Iran is cooperating with a “foreign country” to produce ar vaccine expected to run in tests in human volunteers in February, without offering furr details.

Iran has struggled to stem worst virus outbreak in region, which has infected over 1.2 million people and killed nearly 55,000.

study, a Phase 1 clinical trial, will enroll a total of 56 volunteers to receive two shots of Iran’s vaccine within two weeks, according to Hamed Hosseini, a clinical trial manr, with results to be anunced roughly a month after second shot. Three people received first injections on Tuesday at a ceremony at a Tehran hotel attended by country's health minister. Authorities expect to vaccine to hit market by late spring 2021.

“I am happy that scientific process went ahe in a proper way,” said Tayebeh Mokhber, daughter of Barekat Pharmaceutical Group chairman, who was first to get jabbed. “I hope conclusion will be healthy for our people.”

treatment, dubbed Coviran, is a so-called inactivated vaccine, meaning that it is me of a coronavirus that has been weakened or killed by chemicals, similar to how polio immunizations are me. Leing Western vaccines, like shot me by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, use newer, less-proven techlogy to target coronavirus’ spike protein using RNA.

Still, with progress slow in Iran's vaccine research as Western countries grant approval for emergency use of vaccines and kick-off mass iculation campaigns, Iranian authorities have stressed need to import vaccines.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly alleged that tough American sanctions undermine ir efforts to purchase foreign-me vaccines and iculate ir citizens. U.S. sanctions do have specific carve-outs for medicine and humanitarian aid to Iran. However, international banks and financial institutions hesitate in dealing with Iran transactions for fear of being fined or locked out of American market.

Iran retains routes to imported vaccines, including through COVAX, an international program designed to distribute coronavirus vaccines to participating countries around world. On Monday, Iran said it expects a group of U.S.-based benefactors to ship thousands of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in coming weeks.

(Im: AP)