Tehran, SAEDNEWS: The new rapid test kit was unveiled in a ceremony participated by Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami, a number of other IRGC commanders and officials of the University.
Earlier today, President of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences in Tehran,that operates under the IRGC supervision, announced that the coronavirus vaccine produced by the university’s researchers will undergo the clinical trial phase in May.
“The university is through with the phase of animal testing of its coronavirus vaccine, and we hope that its human trial phase will begin in May,” Hassan Abolqassemi said on Tuesday.
He also said that Baqiyatallah hospital (affiliated to Baqiyatallah University) has so far admitted over 62,000 patients infected with COVID-19 virus.
Iran on Tuesday started the first phase of clinical tests on another coronavirus vaccine, “Fakhra” which has been developed by the Defense Ministry and named after the country's top martyred nuclear scientist, Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
Fakhra Vaccine was put on clinical trial on Tuesday with inoculation of the vaccine to martyr Fakhrizadeh’s son in the presence of the ministers of Defense and Health.
Project Manager of Fakhra Vaccine Dr. Karimi explained the activities of Iranian Defense Ministry’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (known by its acronym SPND) in tackling the coronavirus disease especially production of Fakhra Vaccine and stated, “From the very onset of coronavirus outbreak, the organization, enjoying specialized, committed and experienced manpower, took huge stride in the fight against the disease as per the initiative taken by Martyr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.”
“Production of different coronavirus diagnostic kits and mobile specialized labs (level 3), two of which were handed over to Razi Institute and Pasteur Institute of Iran was the starting point of this all-out activity,” he noted.
“The research and development process of COVID-19 vaccine began in March 2020, Karimi said, adding, “By isolating this virus from 35,000 samples of Iranian patients and culturing 30 suitable isolates, the first vaccine seed was selected and produced from among them.”
“After conducting a variety of tests to identify the virus, its identity card was prepared and the candid of COVID-19 vaccine reached the experimental production stage in June 2020,” he further said.
“After laboratory and animal tests on more than 650 animals from different species of mice, rabbits, guinea pigs and monkeys, the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine were proven,” Dr. Karimi said, adding, “The file of this vaccine was sent to Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA).”
In relevant remarks on Monday, an official with Tehran University of Medical Sciences said that the first phase of the human trial of COV-Iran Barekat coronavirus vaccine has showed completely successful results and the second phase has started.
“Phase one of the study was completed with 56 volunteers and the product was approved,” Hamed Hosseini said.
“In phases two and three, a number of around 300 people will go under study, and in phase three, 20,000 volunteers will be studied in six cities,” he added.
Hosseini said that two prominent professors at University of Tehran Dr. Rasoulinejad and Dr. Moradmand are among the volunteers of the second and third phases of the human trial of the vaccine (Source: Fars News).
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