BEIJING/SHANGHAI: China has spent over a year developing Pfizer-type COVID-19 vaccines that may even help it pivot from stringent "zero-COVID" restrictions, but a changed market and the Omicron variant have muddied prospects before efficacy data has even been published.
Still, China is unlikely to join the majority of countries in approving foreign-made vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology before making its own, experts said, though a slowing vaccination drive at home and in some other nations and improved supply of approved vaccines have raised questions of viability.
"If they (China) use mRNA vaccines, they will produce them themselves rather than take it from outside. It is a matter of national pride and also vaccine diplomacy," said Jaya Dantas, professor of international health at the Curtis School of Population Health in Australia.
About 87% of China's 1.4 billion people are fully vaccinated and nearly 40% have received boosters - all non-mRNA shots. Along with a policy of strictly containing every local outbreak, China has prevented any major virus flare-up. However, the efficacy of the vaccination regime against Omicron is unclear.
Pre-Omicron human trials showed mRNA shots from U.S.-German duo Pfizer Inc PFE.N and BioNTech SE BNTX.O as well as U.S. biotech Moderna Inc MRNA.O better prevented symptomatic cases than the most-used non-mRNA Chinese shots - though studies indicate the pair need boosters to strengthen Omicron defences.
China has not approved the use of those or any other foreign vaccine, instead relying on home-grown vaccines.
"For what appears to be political reasons, the Chinese authorities have insisted to date on using domestically developed alternatives, and that has required them to lean that much further on this lockdown and quarantine-heavy approach to zero-COVID," said senior China analyst Michael Hirson at Eurasia Group.
"I think a more open approach to vaccines would provide them more flexibility and in terms of how they go about containment with a less disruptive impact on the economy."
The National Health Commission did not respond to Reuters queries about foreign mRNA vaccine approvals.
ROCKET SCIENCE
Experts said success in its own mRNA technology will not just broaden its domestic COVID-19 vaccine portfolio, it will also open up development for more innovative vaccines.
China approved human tests for its mRNA candidates in June, 2020, and there are several at various stages of development.
Only ARCoV - co-developed by the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co Ltd and Walvax Biotechnology Co Ltd 300142.SZ - has begun Phase III clinical trials, or large-scale testing in which scientists study how well the vaccine reduces the risk of COVID-19 disease and death.
A laboratory study found Omicron could significantly weaken the neutralising activity of the two-dose ARCoV, though animal testing showed a booster could induce antibody production.
As Omicron threatens to complicate development, a high vaccination rate and expanding booster campaign make for an intensifying Chinese market for COVID-19 shots. Moreover, it is unclear whether authorities will allow further doses for people who have already received one booster shot.
"As the domestic market is getting smaller, all Chinese COVID shot makers need to expand their businesses through export," said China Renaissance Securities analyst Zhao Bing.
Some Chinese mRNA candidates require less stringent storage temperatures than vaccines of foreign rivals, but they are yet to show significant advantages in manufacturing costs or storage conditions over rival non-mRNA vaccines, Zhao said.
Still, going through the process of developing mRNA COVID-19 shots is crucial for China's pharmaceutical industry, regardless of whether a vaccine gains approval, as mRNA-based technology could accelerate development of new medical products to prevent or treat various infectious diseases and cancers, experts said.
"The mRNA-based technology platform itself is like a process of launching a rocket," said Nomura analyst Zhang Jialin.
"The COVID vaccine is actually a satellite carried by the rocket, and if the engineering system of the rocket is built up, other types of satellites can be (carried) in the future."
Reuters
Mon Feb 28 2022
People line up to get a throat swab test at a temporary COVID-19 testing centre as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Beijing, China. - REUTERS
PRK KKB: Ahmad Zahid yakin ahli UMNO sokong calon Kerajaan Perpaduan
Ahmad Zahid yakin ahli parti itu di DUN Kuala Kubu Baharu akan memberikan sokongan kepada calon Kerajaan Perpaduan pada PRK DUN itu, 11 Mei ini.
Piala Thomas: Malaysia diundi bertemu Jepun di suku akhir
Skuad kebangsaan akan meneruskan kempen demi misi membawa Piala Thomas pulang ke tanah air sejak kali terakhir memenanginya pada 1992.
Kenaikan gaji: Fahami konteks, berlaku adil buat perbandingan - Fahmi
Isu timbul selepas ada pihak mendakwa kenaikan paling tinggi adalah sebanyak 35 peratus pada era pentadbiran perdana menteri kelima, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Kerajaan sedia terima kritikan, namun, tidak bertolak ansur sentimen 3R - PM Anwar
Kebebasan bersuara yang diperuntukkan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan bukan bermakna kebebasan untuk mencerca dan memaki hamun sesuka hati.
ADUN Sungai Bakap ditidurkan akibat keradangan perut
Muhammad Fauzi dimaklumkan oleh ahli keluarga Nor Zamri berhubung keadaan kesihatan beliau yang ketika ini ditidurkan.
NCEC setuju transformasi perundangan sisa pepejal diadakan - KPKT
Mesyuarat NCEC bersetuju mengadakan transformasi perundangan bagi sisa pepejal.
AirAsia yakin mampu harungi pergerakan mata wang tidak menggalakkan, kenaikan harga bahan api
AirAsia yakin mampu tangani kenaikan harga bahan api dan pergerakan mata wang tidak menggalakkan yang berpanjangan, yang terus meningkatkan cabaran global.
JPN pergiat masuk pedalaman kampung Orang Asli, daftar sijil kelahiran, MyKad
JPN mempergiatkan inisiatif memasuki kawasan pedalaman Orang Asli bagi mengurangkan kelewatan daftar kelahiran dan MyKad komuniti itu.
Semakan gaji penjawat awam adalah wajar untuk hadapi inflasi - Ahli ekonomi
Semakan gaji penjawat awam adalah munasabah, sudah lama tertunggak dan wajar untuk menghadapi inflasi, kata seorang ahli ekonomi.
Isu terpalit FAM tak jejas Harimau Malaya - Faisal
Faisal sifatkan barisan pemain skuad kebangsaan tidak terjejas dengan isu yang terpalit Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) baru-baru ini.
AS mulakan ujian klinikal vaksin influenza universal mRNA
Ujian dimulai dengan pendaftaran sukarelawan di Duke University di Durham, North Carolina.
ALPS, pusat rawatan kanser Sabah bakal jalin kerjasama strategik teknologi mRNA
ALPS menyediakan perkhidmatan teknologi mRNA dan mencipta rekod memberangsangkan dalam bidang perubatan kanser.
Pfizer, BioNTech mohon kebenaran FDA untuk dos penggalak kedua
FDA berkata ia akan menyemak permintaan Pfizer dan BioNTech "secepat mungkin menggunakan pendekatan menyeluruh dan berasaskan sains."
PICKids: Sasar 70 peratus kanak-kanak divaksin pada Februari
Sasaran itu dibuat berlandaskan keyakinan disuarakan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Imunisasi COVID-19 Kanak-Kanak (CITF-C), Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
Hanya 25 kes miokarditis dikesan selepas terima vaksin - KP Kesihatan
Hanya 25 kejadian kes radang otot jantung atau miokarditis dikesan dalam tempoh 21 hari selepas individu menerima vaksinasi COVID-19.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
MOSTI jalin kerjasama negara luar percepat proses pembangunan vaksin - Dr Adham
Dr Adham Baba berkata perkara tersebut akan diperincikan dalam pelan tindakan yang bakal dilancarkan tidak berapa lama lagi.
Vaksin berasaskan protein keluaran India dapat kelulusan ujian klinikal ke atas manusia
Kelulusan diberi selepas Subject Expert Committee (SEC) meneliti permohonan tersebut dalam satu mesyuarat.
COVID-19: Moderna sedia untuk dapat kelulusan penuh FDA
Menurut syarikat pengeluar vaksin COVID-19 itu, ia melibatkan kelulusan penuh bagi individu berusia 18 tahun dan ke atas.
Thailand jangka hasilkan vaksin COVID-19 tempatan menjelang akhir tahun
Vaksin tempatan RNA messenger (mRNA) COVID-19 Thailand dikenali ChulaCov19 dijangka tersedia pada akhir tahun ini atau awal tahun depan.