The Army’s lead for COVID-19 vaccine development said Tuesday the service is “very optimistic” it could have a vaccine available for portions of the population, or at least in place for large-scale clinical trials, by the end of year.
Army officials told reporters the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) will make a decision next week on moving forward with the most promising version of the various vaccines it’s worked on, with plans to begin initial clinical human trials in late summer.
“As we move against top speed in the fight against COVID-19, the work being done by our scientists at both of our laboratories is yielding promising results,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Talley, head of Army Medical Research and Development Command.
The Army is participating in the whole-of-government “Operation Warp Speed” effort to find a COVID-19 vaccine, to include assisting private sector companies with testing efforts for their vaccine offerings.
“The first few vaccines that are being cued up for Operation Warp Speed, which would include the vaccines made by the companies Moderna [MRNA], AstraZeneca [AZN], Sanofi Pasteur [SNY] and Janssen [JNJ], we are heavily engaged in discussions for how, at every level of testing, we can be involved in those efforts,” Dr. Nelson Michael, director of WRAIR’s Center for Infectious Disease Research, told reporters.
Michael specifically cited Moderna’s vaccine option as offering the most potential for large-scale Phase 3 trials.
“Almost certainly it looks like this vaccine is going to be largely, if not exclusively, tested in the United States,” Michael said.