Coronavirus

Butantan to request new clinical trials for CoronaVac

coronavac butantan
Photo: Rovena Rosa/ABr

The Butantan Biological Institute will make a request to federal health regulator Anvisa to carry out new clinical trials using the CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine, using an updated version of the immunizer which is hoped to be more effective against the Gamma coronavirus variant. 

According to prior studies, the ‘new’ CoronaVac is more effective against a variety of new mutations, which have already become dominant across Latin America. Once new tests are approved, Butantan’s plan is to issue third doses of the vaccine as booster shots, a strategy tested by Cuba with its Abdala vaccine

Butantan experts say the new version of the vaccine provides a solid immune response against the Delta coronavirus variant, which researchers believe is more contagious and more lethal.