TOKYO: With more than 100 research projects underway to develop vaccines for the novel coronavirus, the United States, Europe and China have taken a lead in clinical trials, but a Japanese team also plans to start trials on Tuesday.

According to the World Health Organization, about 140 vaccines are being developed and 16 of them are in the stage of safety and efficacy confirmation in clinical trials.

In addition to conventional inactivated vaccines, a new type called gene-based vaccine is being developed.

A gene-based vaccine develops immunity by taking parts of DNR or RNA of a virus into the human body. As it does not involve the cultivation of a virus itself, the development of such vaccine features a shorter manufacturing period and lower costs.

Although no such vaccine has been put into practical use, it may be able to deal quickly with virus mutations.

"Research on the technology started in the 1990s. It has been used in the development of medicines for animals, and no major safety problem has been found," said Ken Ishii, professor at the University of Tokyo's Institute of Medical Science, who specializes in vaccine research.

The gene-based technology is used in the vaccine for which clinical trials are set to start in Japan on Tuesday.

Osaka University and AnGes Inc., a drug development startup originating from the school, developed the vaccine. Clinical trials will be conducted on 30 people at the Osaka City University Hospital.

In an effort to achieve practical application at an early date, they plan to increase the number of participants in the trials to some 500 in October. They also aim to establish a production system capable of covering 200,000 people by March next year.

But vaccine development usually takes five to 10 years. Research on an HIV vaccine has been continuing for more than 30 years, but none is in practical use yet.

Ishii welcomes numerous development projects for coronavirus vaccines, but said only a few vaccines will be put into practical use after the confirmation of their safety and efficacy.

If a country achieves the practical application of a vaccine, it is expected to prioritize the administration of the vaccine to its own citizens.

"Working out measures against infectious diseases is an issue close to security. Domestic production of a vaccine is of paramount importance," Ishii said.

JIJI Press