Foreign news
Trial of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Russia: ‘No side effects’
Russian recruits show no side effects’ in Chinese coronavirus vaccine trials
People who got a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine candidate in a large-scale clinical trial in Moscow in early September have reported no side effects, local media the Moscow Times reported Monday.
The vaccine, called Ad5-nCoV, was developed by Chinese company CanSino Biologics in alliance with the Chinese military’s research arm.
Russia approved the Phase III trial of the vaccine last month, and Russian pharmaceutical company Petrovax worked with CanSino to conduct the trial. Petrovax said it has received more than 3,000 applications to get the vaccine so far.
“At the moment, the volunteers are doing well. None of them have shown any side effects,” Petrovax said in a press release.
The study participants who got vaccinated are expected to develop antibodies and cellular immune response to COVID-19, the company said.
They will be put under direct supervision for nearly a month, with four interim face-to-face examinations, and will undergo a control examination after six months, according to Petrovax.
The preliminary results are expected to come out in November, it said.
Once the vaccine is approved to enter the market after reliable results from the Phase III trial, Petrovax said it will be able to produce more than four million doses per month this year and 10 million doses per month in 2021.
CanSino’s Ad5-nCoV is one of the most promising COVID-19 candidates currently in the final stage of clinical trials worldwide. The Phases I and II trails, which involved more than 700 volunteers, were conducted in China this spring, all showing good results.
Phase III trial of the vaccine has also launched in Saudi Arabia, involving about 5,000 subjects, according to CanSino.
Russia has already registered one of its self-developed COVID-19 vaccines – Sputnik V – last month just after Phases I and II trails, although its long-term safety and effectiveness remained to be tested in Phase III trials involving 40,000 participants.
(Cover: Screenshot of the report from website of The Moscow Times.)
Foreign news
Pakistan Moves to Deepen Diplomatic, Economic Relations With Nigeria
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has called for deeper diplomatic and economic ties with the Nigerian government to foster development for both countries.
Mr Rana Ihsaan, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during his working vist to Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
NAN reports that the visiting Coordinator held a closed-door meeting with Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
After the meeting, he said that both both sides had agreed on deepening relations in the areas of trade and commerce, among others.
Ihsaan said that both countries must see the need to accelerate efforts towards a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
He said that Pakistan had already submitted a draft BTA and was awaiting Nigeria’s response.
According to him, discussions centered on easing visa processes, expanding educational exchanges, and strengthening Cooperation in sectors such as Minerals, Youth training, and Defence were highlighted.
Ihsaan said that Pakistan had already implemented visa-on-arrival for Nigerians at no cost, and urged Nigeria to reciprocate to enhance people-to-people ties.
He stressed the importance of high-level engagements between both nations, describing Nigeria and Pakistan as very similar countries with large populations, youthful demographics, and vast economic potentials.
“Deeper collaboration will unlock opportunities in trade, education and investment, while further solidifying long-standing diplomatic relations,” he said.
He said that aside from visiting the foriegn Minister and other top government officials in Nigeria, he was also in the country to attend the on-going West Africa Beauty Exhibition holding in Lagos.
He described the exhibition as one of the continent’s largest cosmetic fairs, adding that he led a delegation of 19 Pakistani business people exploring Nigeria’s estimated 10 million dollar beauty and cosmetics market.
Ihsaan said that Nigeria was a gateway to Africa, adding that Pakistani products, like cosmetics, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Food items and Sports goods were already gaining traction in the country.
He encouraged Pakistani exhibitors to establish offices, Warehouses and logistics partnerships to strengthen their foothold in the Nigerian market.
Ihsaan further addressed concerns from Nigerian businesses on the ease of doing business in Pakistan.
He said that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan had been supporting Nigerian participants at major exhibitions to achieve the ease of doing business.
“The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) serves as a one-stop platform for Nigerians interested in investing in Pakistan,” he said
Culled from NAN
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