UK to conduct first Human Challenge Trials for COVID-19

  • IASbaba
  • February 20, 2021
  • 0
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UK to conduct first Human Challenge Trials for COVID-19

Part of: GS Prelims and GS- II Health & GS – III – Biotechnology

In news

  • The UK is set to conduct the first COVID-19 human challenge trials (HCT) within a month from now.
  • Conducted by: UK government’s Vaccines Taskforce, Imperial College London, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and the clinical company called hVIVO.

Key takeaways 

  • The trial was first announced in October 2020.
  • In this study, over 90 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18-30 will be deliberately exposed to small amounts of the virus in controlled settings, 
  • Objective: To test treatments and vaccines.
  • In this way, the participants are “challenged” by the virus.
  • This is not the same as standard vaccine clinical trials.
  • Significance: HCTs are able to give more precise information about the disease and its effects on humans, and also give results about the efficacy of vaccines on infected humans.

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