Spain authorizes its first Phase 2 Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial

Janssen tests to be held in Madrid and Santander with 190 people and first results may be known "in a month"

Screenshot of a Johnson & Johnson promotional video on their Covid-19 vaccine candidate (by J&J)
Screenshot of a Johnson & Johnson promotional video on their Covid-19 vaccine candidate (by J&J) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

August 28, 2020 12:32 PM

The Spanish Medicine Agency has authorized the first Phase 2 Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial to take place in Spain.

On Friday Spain's health minister, Salvador Illa, explained that Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, owned by Johnson & Johnson, will hold the second phase of their vaccine candidate, Ad26.COV2-S, in Spain, Belgium and Germany.

This stage implies humans being tested and thus, Illa said, 190 people will be administered doses in three Spanish hospitals, located in Madrid and Santander.

No Catalan hospitals have been picked, with La Paz and Princesa in the Spanish capital, and Marqués de Valdecilla in the northern city, the ones selected.

In total, 600 people will be given the vaccine in the near future in the three EU member states.

The minister said that this phase will last two months but the first results may be known "in a month" – this stage will be followed by the final one, Phase 3.

The first phase of Janssen's vaccine took place in the United States and Belgium.

Illa also said that that the first doses of a Covid-19 vaccine might arrive in Spain by the end of this year.