We expect it to be used by our people by around 2022. That is our hope for 'Merah Putih
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian state-owned enterprise Bio Farma announced, Friday, that the COVID-19 vaccine "Merah Putih" is projected for roll-out to the public by 2022, as it is currently being developed by the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology.

"We expect it to be used by our people by around 2022. That is our hope for 'Merah Putih,'" Neni Nurainy, the senior manager of research integration and development of the company, stated during a virtual discussion.

This vaccine development, from the initial stage of research to commercialization, is handled by Bio Farma along with the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology as the leader for national consortium of COVID-19 vaccine research, backed by the Ministry of Research and Technology.

Eijkman Institute is developing the "Merah Putih" vaccine on recombinant forms of the S-protein sub-units and the N-Protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease.

"We expect to have the seed vaccine from Eijkman Institute by early 2021 after which Bio Farma will conduct further development," Nurainy remarked, adding that the company will upscale aspects related to the vaccine seed as well as undertake the preclinical study and clinical trials of phase I, II, and III. Related news: Indonesia apportions Rp-5 trillion funds for COVID-19 vaccines in 2020
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Translator: Martha Herlinawati, Suwanti
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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