Good News, Unair's Red And White Vaccine Prepares For Phase 3 Clinical Trials

JAKARTA - The main researcher of the Red and White vaccine clinical trial at Airlangga University, Dr. Dominicus Husada, SpA(K) said the Merah Putih vaccine, whose vaccine seeds were developed by Universitas Airlangga (Unair) is preparing for phase 3 clinical trials in June 2022.

"Clinical trials are as planned. Currently, we are preparing for phase 3," Dominicus said when contacted by Antara in Jakarta, Friday, May 20.

The preparations that are being carried out are related to the readiness of participants receiving vaccine injections, vaccines, researchers and implementers, the readiness of the hospitals that carry out the injections, and the budget.

Phase 3 clinical trials will see immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 from a larger number of participants than phase 2. An estimated 3,500 participants will be involved in phase 3 clinical trials, and will be monitored for 6-12 months.

Dominicus said that currently the 3,500 participants had not been collected at all, so efforts were being made to reach that number.

Meanwhile, the results of the phase 2 clinical trial looked at two aspects, namely safety and benefits. In terms of safety, the Unair Red and White vaccine is proven safe, which has been proven throughout clinical trials.

Meanwhile, from the aspect of benefits, Dominicus said that phase 2 clinical trials showed that immunity was generated, and immunity in vaccine recipients was generated as expected.

The Unair Red and White Vaccine was developed in collaboration with PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals Indonesia and the Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Dr Soetomo in Surabaya, East Java.

Phase 1 clinical trials of the attenuated or killed virus-based COVID-19 vaccine have been started since February 9, 2022 by injecting the vaccine in 90 people at the Dr Soetomo Hospital.