COVID-19 vaccine development

AD5-nCOV, trade-named Convidecia, is a single-dose^[8] viral vector COVID-19 vaccine developed by CanSino. Since late 2020, it has been in Phase III trials in Chile,^[9] Mexico,^[10] Pakistan,^[11] Russia,^[12] and Saudi Arabia^[11] with 40,000 participants.

In February 2021, global data from Phase III trials and 101 COVID cases showed that the vaccine had a 65.7% efficacy in preventing moderate symptoms of COVID-19, and 91% efficacy in preventing severe disease.^[13] It has similar efficacy to the Janssen vaccine, another one-shot adenovirus vector vaccine with 66% efficacy in a global trial.^[14][8] Its single-dose regimen and normal refrigerator storage requirement make it a favorable vaccine option for many countries.^[14] The vaccine is approved for emergency use listing by the WHO.^[15]

In April 2021, CanSino Biologics began clinical trials for a version of its Covid-19 vaccine administered by inhalation rather than injection.^[16] Rollout of inhaled boosters began in China in October 2022.^[17]

Convidecia is approved for use by some countries in Asia,^[18][19][20] Latin America,^[21][22][23] and by Hungary.^[24][25] Production capacity for Ad5-NCov should reach 500 million doses in 2021. Manufacturing will take place in China,^[26] Malaysia,^[20] Mexico,^{[27][verification needed]} and Pakistan.^[28]