Last updated on June 2nd, 2021 at 10:28 am
Keeping up with COVID-19 vaccine candidates in clinical trials has gotten out of hand, so keeping up with these clinical trials have become almost impossible. For brevity, I have made the editorial decision to update this list to include just those vaccines in phase 3 clinical trials, which means that they are within the final stages of clinical assessment.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed over 200 COVID19 vaccine candidates, which is amazing, but it is still too difficult to tell which ones will be successful or not without reviewing the actual data. Just because it’s in a phase 3 trial does not mean it will work.
Right now, there are nearly 50 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in phase 1, 2, or 3 clinical trials – this article will only focus on those in phase 3.
List of COVID-19 vaccine candidates in phase 3 clinical trials
Below, I am going to provide the complete list (as of this date) of companies or sponsoring institutions that are developing coronavirus vaccines or vaccine candidates. With each COVID19 vaccine, I am going to attempt to link to the most recent information about that vaccine with some editorial commentary from me.
I am also going to add the following information:
- Vaccine candidate. Until a vaccine is approved for use, most companies use code names for the vaccine candidate.
- Type of vaccine.
- Status. Ongoing or recruiting (some could be both).
- Number of doses. This is a consideration with respect to distribution and patient compliance.
- Clinical trial identifier. This will give a link to the clinical trials database which tracks all clinical trials around the world for new drugs or vaccines. In general, a clinical trial needs to be listed in this database to be included in any FDA drug applications. You can look up all the details about the clinical trial, like locations and how to volunteer in some cases, by clicking on this link.
The coronavirus vaccine trials are listed in alphabetical order by name of the company or sponsoring institution. It does not imply one is better than another.
Please note that there are zero vaccines developed and manufactured in China that are marketed in the USA, EU, or other developed countries. Vaccine candidates that are being developed and studied outside of the USA, Japan, EU, Canada, Australia, and a few other locations probably will not be widely available.
Astra-Zeneca/University of Oxford Jenner Institute
Vaccine candidate name: ChAdOx1
Type of vaccine: Non-replicating viral vector
Phase 3 status: Ongoing
Number of doses: 2
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04516746 NCT04540393
Study location: UK
The Jenner Institute has developed a vaccine candidate based on a chimp adenovirus vector. They have also signed a manufacturing contract.
Bharat Biotech International Limited
Vaccine candidate name: BBV152A, BBV152B, and BBV152C
Type of vaccine: Inactivate
Phase 3 status: Recruiting/ongoing
Number of doses: 2
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04560881
Study location: India
CanSinoBiologics
Vaccine candidate name: Ad5-nCoV
Type of vaccine: Non-replicating viral vector
Phase 3 status: Recruiting/ongoing
Number of doses: 1
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04526990 NCT04540419
Study location: Pakistan, Russia.
CanSino Biologics has developed a recombinant novel coronavirus vaccine that incorporates the adenovirus type 5 vector (Ad5).
Gamaleya Research Institute
Vaccine candidate name: Gam-COVID-Vac Lyo
Type of vaccine: Non-replicating viral vector
Phase 3 status: Ongoing
Number of doses: 2
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04564716 NCT04530396
Study location: Russia
Gamaleya has developed a recombinant adenovirus vector based on a human adenovirus which contains the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein gene.
As I have written previously, Russia has announced that it will launch the vaccine soon, forgoing phase III clinical trials. This vaccine should be viewed skeptically.
Janssen Vaccines & Prevention (Johnson and Johnson)
Vaccine candidate name: Ad26.COV2.S
Type of vaccine: Non-replicating viral vector
Phase 3 status: Ongoing/recruiting
Number of doses: 1 or 2 doses (two different trials)
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04614948 NCT04505722
Study location: 99 locations across the world
This vaccine from Janssen, a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson (JNJ), utilizes a recombined adenovirus vector that expresses the S-subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to induce an immune response. JNJ has announced that it will begin phase III clinical trials prior to the completion of phase I/II trials.
Moderna Therapeutics
Vaccine candidate name: mRNA-1273
Type of vaccine: mRNA
Phase 3 status: Ongoing/recruiting
Number of doses: 1
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04470427
Study location: USA
Moderna has recently announced a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273. This vaccine relies on RNA to kickstart the endogenous production of proteins similar enough to the virus that they trigger the body’s adaptive immune system to produce antibodies effective against the actual target. So far, there is no information available about the preclinical studies (although it may be on the way in a peer-reviewed journal).
Also, Moderna has several similar vaccines in clinical trials, but none have received FDA approval.
Moderna has pushed ahead with the phase III clinical trials, although I have examined Moderna’s claims in more detail here. Edward Nirenberg has written an outstanding article about mRNA vaccines here. More recently, there are reports of some adverse events after receiving the vaccine in Phase I clinical trials.
Novavax
Vaccine candidate name: NVX-CoV2373
Type of vaccine: protein subunit
Phase 3 status: Ongoing/recruiting
Number of doses: 2
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04611802
Study location: USA and Mexico
US-based Novavax has developed a genetically-engineered nanoparticle vaccine using a Matrix-M adjuvant. Novavax has extensive experience in developing these vaccines, although none have received FDA approval as of today.
Pfizer – BioNTech
Vaccine candidate name: BNT162a1, BNT162b1, BNT162b2, BNT162c2
Type of vaccine: mRNA
Phase 3 status: Ongoing/recruiting
Number of doses: 2
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04368728
Study location: 154 locations across the world
Biontech is a German biotechnology company that has focused on cancer treatments using mRNA technology. Since mRNA vaccines have become a key vaccine development focus, they quickly developed a vaccine to enter clinical trials. They have partnered with Pfizer.
They have announced encouraging results which I have discussed here.
Sinopharm/Beijing Institute of Biological Products
Vaccine candidate name: inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Type of vaccine: inactivated
Phase 3 status: Ongoing/recruiting
Number of doses: 2
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04560881
Study location: Argentina
Sinopharm/Wuhan Institute of Biological Products
Vaccine candidate name: inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Type of vaccine: inactivated
Phase 3 status: Ongoing/recruiting
Number of doses: 2
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04612972
Study location: Peru
Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd
Vaccine candidate name: inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Type of vaccine: inactivated
Phase 3 status: Ongoing/recruiting
Number of doses: 2
Clinical trial identifier: NCT04617483 NCT04582344 NCT04456595
Study location: China, Turkey, Brazil
Summary
I keep writing these same points about COVID19 vaccine trials because there seems to be a lot of confusion as to what it means or doesn’t mean. These COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in phase 3 clinical trials, but that does not mean that any or all will be safe and effective. That’s the point of phase 3 clinical trials.
Furthermore, even if the vaccine is approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies, we should be prepared for long waits before any of these vaccines become widely available. Manufacturing, distribution, and prioritization issues could mean that the average person may not receive the vaccine until mid-late 2021.
In the meantime, wear your damn mask. Keep your distance socially. Stay home.
Notes
I intend to update this article frequently as new COVID-19 vaccine candidates enter phase 3 clinical trials. At this time, I will only include COVID-19 vaccines that are registered with the US clinical trials database, as that is known as the authoritative location for all clinical trials that will be seeking regulatory approval in the USA and other countries.
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