The race for a vaccine against the coronavirus is also in full swing. According to official figures, there are around fifty projects researching it. In addition, numerous scientists are investigating whether it is possible to treat corona patients with certain drugs that have already been approved.
In contrast to medicines, vaccines are used in healthy people. Therefore, a vaccine against the coronavirus must go through all clinical test procedures. This takes a while. Almost all projects are still in the preclinical phase. This is about the production of a prototype. Then comes the clinical tests, and at the very end the vaccine is tested on humans.
“It is probably not expected to be approved before the end of the year”, René Buholzer dampens exaggerated hopes. “The industry currently assumes 12 to 18 months,” adds the director of the Interpharma industry association.
There are medical reasons for this: firstly, the test subjects have to be checked regularly for side effects – and secondly, more importantly: it must be clearly demonstrated that the vaccine really protects against the coronavirus. Otherwise the world would give up false security – with potentially fatal consequences! Christian Kolbe
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