CanSino Biologics’ COVID-19 Vaccine Gets EUL From the WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted an emergency use listing (EUL) for CanSino Biologics’s COVID-19 vaccine Convidecia, clearing the way for its use by the COVAX initiative, which aims to help low- and middle-income nations obtain COVID-19 vaccines.

The single-dose vaccine is based on a modified human adenovirus that expresses the spike S protein of SARS-CoV-2. It has demonstrated 64 percent efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 infection and 92 percent efficacy against severe COVID-19 disease.

As part of the EUL process, CanSino must commit to continue to generate data to enable full licensure and WHO prequalification of the vaccine.

The WHO is recommending the vaccine for people age 18 years and older.