China plans to use 40,000 Bangladeshis to conduct Covid-19 vaccine trials: India’s media

DHAKA, Jul 14, 2020, The Economic Times. China in a startling move plans to use the population of Bangladesh as ‘guinea pigs’ to conduct Phase III trials of its Covid vaccine. Well known Chinese firms Sinopharm and National Biotec are eyeing this possibility of human trials to be conducted on 40,000 persons with the help of Communist Party of China, ET has reliably learnt.

While some Western Pharma companies have predatory practices, Chinese companies are now trying to exploit vulnerable populations for their profits.

Last month there were reports that China may run the second phase trial of the coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh. This was announced by Director General (DG) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Abul Kalam Azad.

“The Chinese government may run the second phase human trial of a possible coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh,” he said during a virtual conference with members of Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum last month.

ET has gathered that China is taking advantage of Covid to exploit developing and least developed countries across sectors from pharma to trade.

State-run Sinopharm has completed construction of a plant in Wuhan for mass production of a coronavirus vaccine candidate now under development. Eighteen potential vaccines were in clinical trials globally, with seven being developed by Chinese companies, according to the World Health Organization.