An inactivated COVID-19 vaccine developed by China has shown effective protection against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease, in animal experiments, according to a study published online in scientific journal Cell on Saturday.

The research paper, titled "Development of an inactivated vaccine candidate, BBIBP-CorV, with potent protection against SARS-CoV-2," reported that its pilot trial induced high levels of neutralizing antibody concentrations in mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and nonhuman primates including cynomolgus monkeys and rhesus macaques.

A neutralizing antibody defends a cell from a pathogen or infectious particle by obliterating any biological effect.

Two immunizations doses of two micrograms each "efficiently protects rhesus macaques," said the paper. No antibody-dependent enhancement of infection was detected in the experiment.

In addition, the vaccine exhibits high productivity and good genetic stability for manufacturing, according to the research.

The research was jointly conducted by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products under the China National Biotec Group, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) as well as other institutions.

And the paper was co-authored by top Chinese scientists including Gao Fu, director of the China CDC, Qin Chuan, director of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences under CAMS, and Tan Wenjie, director of the emergency technical center of China CDC's viral disease control and prevention institute.

Inactivated vaccines use the killed version of the germ that causes a disease. So far, four inactivated vaccines and one adenoviral vector vaccine have been approved for clinical trials.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)

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