China approves Shanghai Fosun's unit to run human testing for BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine

(Reuters) Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group said on Friday that its unit has received clinical trial approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by German firm BioNTech.

The experimental COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, is more than 90% effective based on initial results from large trials outside China, BioNTech’s partner Pfizer Inc said on Monday.

Shanghai Fosun said in a company filing that its unit will begin a Phase II clinical trial in China for the candidate when the conditions are ready.

Source: Reuters; Reporting by Twinnie Siu and Roxanne Liu. Editing by Jane Merriman