24 August 2020 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the use of investigational convalescent plasma to treat Covid-19 in hospitalised patients. The EUA allows the distribution of Covid-19 convalescent plasma in the country and its administration by health care providers.

China-based Sinopharm has commenced a Phase III clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The study involves up to 6,000 volunteers aged more than 18 years. Sinopharm has also obtained approvals to test its potential Covid-19 vaccine in UAE, Argentina, Peru and Morocco, reported Reuters.

India-based Bharat Biotech has obtained the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) approval to perform a clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate ‘Covaxin’ through intradermal administration. The vaccine is currently being assessed for intramuscular administration.

China has awarded emergency authorisation for Covid-19 vaccine candidates developed by certain domestic companies, according to local media reports. A Chinese health official said that the government has come up with plan packages, including medical consent forms and side-effects monitoring plans, to regulate and monitor the emergency usage.

The University of Sharjah in UAE has signed a research agreement with social initiative Sandooq Al Watan to develop a drug against Covid-19 infection. Part of Sandooq Al Watan’s applied research and development programme, the research focuses on designing a dual-inhibitor antiviral drug to treat the disease.