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How close is China to getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine ready?

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, China has been developing COVID-19 vaccines from five different approaches. It has so far approved seven COVID-19 vaccines based on inactivated virus, viral vector and recombinant protein. Three of them have been approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO), with CanSino’s Convidecia validated on May 19.

Chinese vaccine developers are still exerting efforts to make their own messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine, the type that’s more widely embraced by other countries around the world, with at least 10 candidates in the pipeline.

CanSino and CSPC Pharmaceutical recently rolled out Phase-I and -II clinical trials for their mRNA COVID-19 vaccines after obtaining approvals from the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA) in April.

Why does China want to develop its own mRNA vaccine?

mRNA was discovered in the early 1960s and research into how it could be delivered into cells began in the 1970s. It wasn’t until 1990 that mRNA flu vaccines were tested in animals, and only during the past decade did investment start to favor mRNA as a tool in the fields of vaccine development and protein replacement therapy.

However, China did not start to explore this technology until the late 2010s, and most pharmaceutical companies started from making therapeutical products, such as those for immuno-oncology, according to Wang Haomeng, the deputy general manager of CanSino (Shanghai) Biological Research Co., Ltd.

“Most mRNA technology is protected by patents owned by western enterprises as they were the first to research on it,” Wang told CGTN. “Therefore the challenges for Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises are to break through these global patent barriers, build independent intellectual property rights, and become innovative enterprises in this field.”

Wang said that for most innovative enterprises that are investing in mRNA technology, the vision is to use it well to help more countries in need, whether research is carried out in China or internationally.

Unlike other types of vaccines that use weakened or inactivated components of the virus to activate the body’s immune response, mRNA vaccines do not carry any piece of the virus. Rather, the RNA transcript is wrapped in packages that can be delivered into our body to teach our cells how to produce antibodies specific to the virus, like a messenger.

“The coronavirus outbreak actually pushed forward the technological development of mRNA in China,” Wang said, adding that the country also boosted the industry with targeted policies and updated procedure guidance from the NMPA.

The development of the mRNA vaccine platform is also important for the rapid design of antigens and potentially fast, inexpensive and scalable manufacturing, as it simply requires changes on untranslated regions'(UTRs) sequence to elicit different expressions of protein for specific purposes.

“We only need to edit on the UTRs to complete the procedure from design to verification. It’s very much like a streamlined production,” said Wang.

How are China’s mRNA COVID-19 candidates performing?

At least 10 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are being developed in China, and all of them are still at clinical trial stages given the difficulties such as recruiting acceptable volunteers.

The first to enter Phase-III clinical trials is the two-dose ARCoV from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Suzhou Abogen Biosciences and Walvax Biotechnology. It was approved for clinical trial in June 2020, and preliminary trial data shows it to be safe, well-tolerated and effective, according to a study published on the Lancet Microbe journal in January.

Shanghai based Stemirna Therapeutics, the first biotechnology company to bring mRNA therapeutics and nanoparticle formulation platforms to China, has a candidate that has been designed to target the Delta variant of the coronavirus. It is in a mid-stage clinical trial in Laos and the company is applying for trials of an updated version that it said showed early promise against variants such as Omicron.

AIM Vaccine Corporation, after acquiring Liverna in 2021, also has a candidate that was approved for clinical trials in March 2021. The company shared its early-stage trial data analysis of its candidate LVRNA009 in January and said that it appears safe and able to trigger an immune response.

China also has the world’s first lyophilized mRNA vaccine, which was developed by Rhegen Bio. Three lyophilized vaccines targeting wild-type, Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants were found to successfully induce high-level neutralization response, according to a pre-clinical study published on the preprint server bioRxiv.

The lyophilized mRNA-LNP nanoparticle vaccine is delivered by an LNP delivery system that can remain stable between 4 to 25 degree Celsius with the company’s self-developed lyophilization technology. The vaccine can be stored and transported in conventional cold chain conditions, greatly improving accessibility.

China’s mRNA vaccines, including those from ARCoV and CanSino, are designed to remain stable between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius for at least six months. The western vaccines of similar kind, including those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, can be stored at the same temperature but for only a month.

“It is particularly important to develop an mRNA vaccine that can be transported in conventional cold chain and be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, or at room temperature stably for broad application,” CanSino said.

Other candidates such as those from RiboBio, Sinopharm and RNACure, which partnered with Walvax, are at early stage or applying for clinical trials in China.

How soon can we expect mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in China?

A clinical trial involves implementation, sample evaluation and a result report that normally takes 12 to 14 months plus one year of follow-up interviews, and that’s after candidate recruitment.

“Our biggest challenge right now is to recruit ‘blank samples,'” Wang said, meaning those who have not been inoculated with any COVID-19 vaccine. It is difficult in China as nearly 90 percent of the country’s total population has been fully inoculated as of May 6, according to data released by the National Health Commission.

Like CanSino, many of the aforementioned companies have readied their mRNA vaccine production lines, but it is hard to provide an exact timeline given the uncertainties during clinical trials.

China is yet to approve any foreign-made mRNA vaccines, such as those from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.

 

Source: CGTN

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UN adopts first global artificial intelligence resolution to ensure AI is safe

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The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence on Thursday, encouraging countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data, and monitor AI for risks.

The nonbinding resolution, proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by China along with over 120 other nations, also advocates for the strengthening of privacy policies.

“Today, all 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly have spoken in one voice, and together, chosen to govern artificial intelligence rather than let it govern us,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

The resolution is the latest in a series of initiatives – few of which carry significant enforceability – by governments around the world to shape AI’s development amid fears it could disrupt democratic processes, turbocharge fraud, or lead to dramatic job losses, among other harms.

“The improper or malicious design, development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence systems … pose risks that could … undercut the protection, promotion and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the measure states.

In November, the U.S., Britain and more than a dozen other countries unveiled the first detailed international agreement on how to keep artificial intelligence safe from rogue actors, pushing for companies to create AI systems that are “secure by design.”

Europe is ahead of the United States, with EU lawmakers adopting a provisional agreement this month to oversee the technology. The Biden administration has been pressing lawmakers for AI regulation, but a polarized U.S. Congress has made little headway. In the meantime, the White House sought to reduce AI risks to consumers, workers, and minorities while also bolstering national security with a new executive order in October.

The resolution aims to close the digital divide between rich developed countries and poorer developing countries to ensure that all are included in discussions on AI. It also aims to ensure that developing countries have the technology and capabilities to take advantage of AI’s benefits, including detecting diseases, predicting floods, helping farmers, and training the next generation of workers.

The resolution recognizes the rapid acceleration of AI development and use and stresses “the urgency of achieving global consensus on safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.”

It also acknowledges that “the governance of artificial intelligence systems is an evolving area” that requires further discussions on possible governance approaches and emphasizes that innovation and regulation are mutually reinforcing – not mutually exclusive.

Source(s): CGTN

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Beijing still tops Nature Index global science city rankings

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Beijing has consistently ranked first in the global science city rankings for eight consecutive years, as measured by the Nature Index, according to Yin Yong, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Beijing Municipal Committee and mayor of Beijing.

Nature Index tracks the authorship of articles in prestigious research journals and Beijing’s ranking has shown that the city remains the top science city in the world.

On Tuesday, China’s State Council Information Office held a press conference on leveraging Beijing’s strategic role as the national capital, initiating a new chapter in high-quality development. Yin made the remarks while he answered questions from the media at the press conference.

Yin also introduced the capital’s achievement in seeking scientific and technological innovation and attracting high-level talent in science and technology.

Beijing has 92 colleges and universities, and more than 1,000 research institutes and its numbers of national laboratories and large scientific installations are ranked first in the country.

Beijing’s investment in research and development has also been among the largest in the country. Every 10,000 people in Beijing hold an average of over 262 invention patents, ranking first in China.

The capital has a large talent pool with more than 550,000 scientific researchers. In the field of artificial intelligence, for instance, Beijing’s top talent accounts for about 43 percent of the country’s total.

An average of 337 technology-based enterprises are established in Beijing every day, and the number of national high-tech enterprises and unicorn enterprises rank first among all cities in the country.

Source(s): CGTN

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Newly operated Hydro-floating solar project showcases China-Thailand cooperation in clean energy

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KHON KAEN, Thailand, March 5 (Xinhua) — A hydro-floating solar project jointly built by Chinese and Thai companies started commercial operation on Tuesday to support Thailand’s development of clean energy.

The Ubolratana Dam hydro-floating solar hybrid power plant, located in Thailand’s northeastern Khon Kaen province, integrates floating solar panels, clean hydropower, high-efficiency energy storage systems, and smart energy management systems, according to Dongfang Electric International Corporation, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of power-generating equipment that built the project with its Thai partner.

Jiraporn Sirikum, deputy governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), said building floating solar hybrid power plants is an important step toward the clean energy production and power stability of Thailand, praising the Chinese and the Thai companies for being able to deliver the project ahead of schedule.

“This showed a serious commitment to promoting clean energy in Thailand. We sincerely hope that the floating solar will help to promote clean energy for the community economy and local society,” Jiraporn told a commercial operation launching ceremony.

Liu Hongmei, Chinese Consul General in Khon Kaen, said she believed that the project’s commercial operation would bring greater well-being to the people of Northeast Thailand and mark a new milestone for Chinese enterprise investment in the region.

The Ubolratana Dam hydro-floating solar hybrid power plant is its second such hydro-floating solar project, said EGAT, which aims to build more such projects nationwide to promote clean energy.

Source(s): Xinhua

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