Japanese companies are currently conducting preclinical trials of four COVID-19 vaccines, TASS reported referring to the WHO Essential Medicines and Health Technologies Coordinator Socorro Escalante.

According to her, so far in Japan, only one vaccine is in the second stage of clinical trials. At the same time, four more vaccines are undergoing preclinical studies.

Speaking about future vaccine production in the Western Pacific region, Escalante noted that some countries, including Australia, China, Singapore, and Japan, have indicated their willingness to help other countries in this part of the world if they lack production capacity.

Clinical trials of a vaccine developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company AnGes Inc. started at the end of June. AnGes Inc. created a DNA vaccine based on nucleic acids. Its tests on rats were successful, and in late May the company reported that the rodents had developed antibodies. Currently, according to the WHO, 26 vaccines, including the Russian one, are undergoing clinical trials around the world.