North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey welcomed President Donald Trump to the Research Triangle area today to visit the FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (FDB) Innovation Center where a potential coronavirus vaccine is under development. The vaccine is currently in Phase I vaccine trials where the safety of the vaccine will be tested in a very small group of adults. The President toured the Center and talked with management about the progress being made with the vaccine. Commissioner Causey appreciated the President’s positive remarks.
“I am excited that a potential vaccine is under development in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park,” said Commissioner Causey. “I am thankful that our President has made the discovery of a much-needed vaccine a priority to help not only North Carolinians, but the entire nation,” he added.
Commissioner Causey is optimistic the vaccine trials may progress into Phase II sometime in August. It is reported that in Phase II, the vaccine’s safety, dosing, and method of delivery will be studied, among other things. According to reports, if all goes well in Phase II, the trials could progress to Phase III later in the fall. The Phase III trials are expected to test the safety of the vaccine in a large group of people rather than the smaller groups used in the earlier phases.
Commissioner Causey is hopeful that as a result of the President’s continual push in finding a solution to this COVID-19 pandemic, our nation will return to normalcy soon.