Uzbekistan seeks to establish coronavirus vaccine production

AKIPRESS.COM - The government of Uzbekistan signed agreement with 2 Chinese companies on final stage of clinical trials of coronavirus candidate vaccines. The country hopes to start production of coronavirus vaccines and to export them to the neighboring states, according to Head of Sanitary Well-Being agency Bahodir Yusupaliev.
Russian companies were also offered to hold the joint trials of the coronavirus vaccine, Gazeta.uz reported.
Two Chinese companies, which developed the coronavirus vaccine candidate, earlier proposed to jointly hold the third phase of clinical trials in Uzbekistan. The Ministry of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan has signed agreements with Sinopharm and Zhifei Longcom.
"Particitipation in the third phase of clinical trials of candidate vaccines is planned. Then we will raise the issue of production of these vaccines here, which will lead to reduction of import and, morever, we will be able to export them to the neighboring countries," Bahodir Yusupaliev said.
Uzbekistan offered the joint trial of the vaccine to Russian companies. "We are waiting their reply. I think we will work with them at the same time," Bahodir Yusupaliev suggested.
Local media reported earlier Uzbekistan requested the Russian Direct Investment Fund to allocate 5,000 doses of Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V. The Russian Direct Investment Fund said it had reached agreement with the pharmaceutical company Laxisam on supply of up to 35 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine to Uzbekistan.