HCMC - The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) of India will evaluate the immunogenicity of Vietnamese-made Covid-19 vaccine Nano Covax developed by the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.

THSTI and Nanogen on September 23 signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect in Faridabad City, Haryana State in India, VietnamPlus news site reported. Under the agreement, Nanogen will send the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of volunteers participating in the third trial phase of Nano Covax to THSTI for immunogenicity assessment. After receiving the cells for 30 days, THSTI will return the test results to Nanogen. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau said that the cooperation with the Indian institute gave significant meaning to Nanogen during the Covid vaccine research and development process. THSTI’s objective assessment is expected to help confirm the quality of Nano Covax and act as a foundation for Nanogen to produce the domestically-developed Covid-19 vaccine for local and international use. Nanogen is working with local agencies to step up trials of the Nano Covax vaccine to soon receive approval for emergency use in Vietnam. THSTI is a unit of the Department of Biotechnology at the Ministry of Science and Technology of India. It is a major and prestigious institute in India to research, develop and evaluate vaccines. The institute has participated in various projects of assessing, developing and trialing Covid vaccines, including Covaxin, ZyCoV-D, Covervax and Sputnik V.