Transcript
As coronavirus cases continue to soar across the nation, the race is on for companies to test possible coronavirus treatments and vaccines.
On Monday pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson announced it plans to begin human clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine by September.
They have committed one billion dollars to fund vaccine research, development and clinical testing.
Officials think the first batch of vaccines could be ready by early next year.
Johnson and Johnson says as the world’s largest healthcare company, it feels a deep responsibility to use its resources to fight the pandemic.
Other smaller biotech companies are also working on potential vaccines but more immediate hold may be found in treatments that are already available for other ailments.
The World Health Organization has begun clinical tests of a drug originally used against Ebola.
Meanwhile Chinese health officials have been testing a rheumatoid arthritis drug on COVID-19 patients there.
Posted – 3.31.20