Indonesia Ties Up with Partners in South Korea, Norway on Covid-19 Vaccines

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia is collaborating with partners in South Korea and Norway on Covid-19 vaccine development even as it works closely with China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd for phase III vaccine clinical trials.

Indonesia is in intensive discussions with Genexine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company from South Korea, to produce DNA vaccine, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a Norwegian foundation to accelerate vaccines development, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.

Retno said Indonesia’s state-owned pharmaceutical holding company PT Bio Farma and Sinovac will undergo phase III clinical trials soon, while Indonesia’s pharmaceutical company Kalbe Farma and Genexine will produce DNA vaccines and will begin their phase II clinical trials in August or September.

Also read: Indonesia’s Bio Farma to Produce Up to 250 Million Doses of Covid-19 Vaccines

As for cooperation with CEPI, Retno did not elaborate on its current stage. She only said that the government held intensive talks with CEPI in Norway.

“Our envoy in Oslo has communicated and facilitated the submission of a proposal to explore cooperation in vaccine development between Bio Farma and CEPI,” the minister said in a virtual press conference.

“Currently, Bio Farma is on the shortlist for a potential manufacturer for the Covid-19 vaccine. CEPI is one of the leading public-private partnership platforms in accelerating vaccine development. At least six CEPI vaccines have already started clinical trials,” she added.

Previously, the ministry also facilitated bringing in the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Sinovac. The vaccine arrived last week and was handed over to Bio Farma for phase III clinical trials.

(Writer: Rakhmat Nur Hakim | Editor: Kristian Erdianto)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/07/23/13360351/selain-china-ini-2-mitra-indonesia-dalam-pengembangan-vaksin-covid-19.