'No side effects': Phase 2 trials of Turkey's COVID-19 vaccine candidate successful

By Sevgi Ceren Gokkoyun

ANKARA (AA) – The Phase 2 trials of Turkey’s virus-like particle (VLP) coronavirus vaccine candidate have been successfully completed, the country’s industry and technology minister announced on Friday.

Mustafa Varank, who was a volunteer in the trials, said the tests were completed with no side effects, according to a statement by the ministry.

He said the jab is among only five VLP vaccine candidates in the world that have reached the stage of clinical trials.

It was included in the World Health Organization’s list of COVID-19 vaccine candidates on March 30, he added.

The Phase 1 trials of the vaccine, developed by Turkish scientists Professor Mayda Gursel and Professor Ihsan Gursel, started in March with 30 volunteers, while Phase 2 involved 349 volunteers, the minister said.

Varank said more volunteers are needed for the Phase 3 trials.

“We aim to reach the required number of volunteers for the Phase 3 studies, which will start in September, and to obtain emergency use authorization,” he said.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s vaccination drive has been making strong progress, with Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announcing on Friday that more than 70% of all people aged 18 and above have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.