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Canada-China COVID-19 vaccine trials abandoned: National Research Council

FILE PHOTO: Chinese vaccine maker CanSino Biologics' sign is pictured on its building in Tianjin, China November 20, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

A COVID-19 vaccine-development partnership between China’s CanSino Biologics and Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia has been abandoned.

The National Research Council of Canada said Thursday in a statement the CanSino vaccine intended for phase one clinical trials has not been approved by Chinese customs for shipment to Canada.

READ MORE: Safety of COVID-19 vaccine concerning some Canadians, StatCan survey shows

Because of that delay the NRC says the opportunity to conduct the trials is over.

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The NRC says the Canadian Center for Vaccinology had been ready to start clinical trials as early as June, after Health Canada approved CanSino’s proposal.

Click to play video: 'Canadian trials set to begin in race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine'
Canadian trials set to begin in race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine

The Halifax lab was one of several in Canada and in the U.S. whose work in 2014 led to an Ebola vaccine that was used in West Africa.

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In its statement, the NRC says it will focus on other partners and other COVID-19 priorities.

 

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