New Delhi: As many countries begin vaccination drive for Covid-19, another vaccine has now entered phase 3 clinical trials. The vaccine candidate called NVX-CoV2373 which is being developed by the Maryland-based biotechnology company Novavax has begun the final phase of testing in the US and Mexico.

Phase 3 trials of NVX-CoV2373, are also underway in the UK where about 15,000 volunteers have been recruited.

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NVX‑CoV2373 is a stable, prefusion protein made using Novavax’ recombinant protein nanoparticle technology and includes Novavax’ proprietary Matrix‑M™ adjuvant. As described by the company, NVX‑CoV2373 is a vaccine candidate engineered from the genetic sequence of SARS‑CoV‑2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. NVX‑CoV2373 was created using Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike (S) protein and contains Novavax’ patented saponin-based Matrix-M™ adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies

Phase 3 trials of vaccine

Around 30,000 volunteers over the age of 18 will be recruited in the US and Mexico trials of the vaccine. While two-thirds of the participants will receive the vaccine, one-third will be given a placebo. Volunteers will be asked to give informed consent prior to their participation in the trial.

"The launch of this study -- the fifth investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate to be tested in a Phase 3 trial in the United States -- demonstrates our resolve to end the pandemic through the development of multiple safe and effective vaccines," said US immunologist Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH in a statement.

Novavax and Serum Institute of India 

In September this year, Novavax announced an agreement with the Serum Institute of India to manufacture and deliver Coronavirus Vaccine. With the agreement, Novavax increases its manufacturing capacity of NVX-CoV2373 to over two billion doses annually, when all planned capacity has been brought online by mid-2021.

In an official statement, Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Office said, "With this arrangement, we have now put in place a global supply chain that includes the recently acquired Praha Vaccines and partnerships with leading biologics manufacturers, enabling production on three continents."