Johnson & Johnson to test coronavirus vaccine in 60,000 volunteers

[BENGALURU] Johnson & Johnson (J&J) aims to test its experimental coronavirus vaccine in up to 60,000 volunteers in a late-stage trial scheduled to start in September, according to a US government database of clinical trials.

The trial would be conducted in nearly 180 sites across the United States and other countries including Brazil and Mexico, according to the information posted on clinicaltrials.gov on Aug 10.

Rival coronavirus vaccine makers such as Moderna and Pfizer are targeting recruitment of up to 30,000 volunteers for their late-stage studies.

J&J did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

Shares of the company rose marginally on Thursday, paring their earlier losses, after the Wall Street Journal first reported the trial size.

Reuters last week reported that the Trump administration's coronavirus vaccine project was recruiting scientists in South Africa and Latin America to help test possible vaccines in US-backed clinical trials.

REUTERS