This vaccine, developed by the Military Scientific Institute and the Chinese biopharmaceutical company CanSino Biologics, began to be used in late June on the Chinese Army.

The Chinese State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) approved the first patent for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate – still in the third phase of testing – that could “be mass-produced in a short period of time,” repots the local press today.

This vaccine, developed by the Military Scientific Institute and the Chinese biopharmaceutical company CanSino Biologics, began to be tested in late June on the Chinese Army after a team led by researcher Chen Wei discovered a highly efficient neutralizing monoclonal antibody.

The results of the second phase of clinical trials of the vaccine showed that it is safe and induces the immune response against the coronavirus, according to research published at the end of July in the journal ‘The Lancet’.

According to the SIPO patent, the vaccine has shown a “good immune response in mice and rodents and can induce the body to produce a strong cellular and humoral immune response in a short time”, reports the local newspaper.

The patent claims that this vaccine “can be mass-produced in a short period of time”, and that it is “quick and easy to prepare.”

Its safety and effectiveness must be confirmed in phase three, which would take place abroad, the information adds.

Moreover, experts cited by the ‘Global Times’ indicate that the grant of the patent demonstrates the “originality and creativity” of the vaccine, and “CanSino is also likely to apply for a patent together with foreign authorities to protect its intellectual property rights during international cooperation”.

The research published in July in ‘The Lancet’ collected that tests were carried out on more than 500 people as a continuation of the first tests that were published last May, also with positive results, but more human trials in phase III will be needed, to confirm whether this vaccine candidate effectively protects against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection.

The authors emphasized, however, that no participants in the phase two trials were exposed to the virus after vaccination, so it is not yet possible to determine whether the vaccine candidate protects effectively against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Usually, the period for a vaccine to be available for mass use is at least 12 to 18 months, according to the World Health Organization, although China has accelerated the processes due to the global health emergency while allowing some multi-phase studies to be conducted at the same time.