China Still Leading Vaccines Race Despite Moderna Data, US 'Warp Speed' Plan?

Four In Phase I/II Vs Two From US

19 May 2020

The unveiling of US president Donald Trump’s 'Warp Speed’ plan to fast-track a coronavirus vaccine and the latest promising Phase I data from Moderna's candidate haven't seemed to swing China’s belief that it’s still leading the race.

China USA or United States trade and American tariffs conflict with two opposing trading partners as an economic import and exports dispute concept with 3D illustration elements — CHINA, US RACING TO HAVE FIRST CORONAVIRUS VACCINES ON THE MARKET • Source: Shutterstock

The US plan to have a coronavirus vaccine ready by the end of the year, unveiled on 15 May by President Donald Trump, has many wondering if the race to develop such a product is heating up considerably, given that on 18 May one of the leading developers, US firm Moderna Inc., disclosed positive preliminary results from a Phase I trial for its mRNA-based vaccine.

The recent developments are further stirring up a debate over whether the US is getting ahead of China, which started...

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