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Coronavirus Vaccine: Top Five Leading COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the race to develop a vaccine is on, across the world. While a typical vaccine could take years to develop, drugmakers are aiming to bring a COVID-19 vaccine into the market within one year of the outbreak. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 150 coronavirus vaccines are currently in development globally. Here are top five vaccine candidates that currently lead the race, as per the vaccine landscape document prepared by the WHO.

Oxford University And AstraZeneca's AZD1222, United Kingdom

DDeveloped by Oxford University And AstraZeneca, AZD1222 is in Phase 3 of human trials. In India, the vaccine will be produced by Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune and will be known as Covishield in the country. SII has also started clinical trials of Covishield in the country. The researchers working on AZD1222 have claimed that the vaccine has been able to produce optimistic results with no or mild side-effects.

Moderna's mRNA-1273, United States Of America

Vaccine candidate mRNA-1273 has been developed by biotech firm Moderna along with investigators from the US NIH (National Institute of Health). Data from the trial showed that participants appeared to produce an immune response similar to the one seen in those who have recovered from coronavirus infection. Early results also indicated that the vaccine could trigger antibodies against the novel coronavirus. The company claimed that its mRNA-1273 vaccine had been ?generally safe and well-tolerated'.

BioNTech, Fosub Pharma And Pfizer's BNT162b1, Germany

Developed by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies BioNTech, Fosub Pharma And Pfizer, vaccine candidate BNT162b1 is in the Phase 3 of human trials. The developers claim that in the earlier phases, the vaccine candidate has produced neutralizing antibodies and exhibited moderate side-effects like pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle and joint pain, fever.

CanSino Biological Inc./Beijing Institute Of Biotechnology's Adenovirus Type 5 Vector, China

CanSino's vaccine, has also been successful in producing antibody and T-cell immune responses and has not prompted any serious side-effects. After showing positive results, the vaccine is undergoing Phase 3 trials.

Sinovac's CoronaVac, China

Developed by Sinovac Biotech, coronavirus vaccine candidate CoronaVac is in Phase 3 clinical trials. The vaccine candidate has been approved for emergency use in China as part of a programme in the country to vaccinate high-risk groups such as medical staff.