In the quest to find a vaccine against COVID-19 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a leading American pharmaceutical is working together with IAVI (a nonprofit scientific research organization).

The vaccine will be produced through recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) technology, in a similar manner by which earlier the vaccine for Ebola virus was developed. The researchers have swapped the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) gene coding for the VSV surface protein with a gene coding for SARS-CoV-2 surface protein to generate an immune response. Presently, this vaccine candidate is in preclinical development phase. The clinical studies are anticipated to start at year end.

This is also working on developing an oral antiviral candidate for COVID-19 treatment. This candidate is a ribonucleoside analog that prevents the RNA virus replication comprising SARS-CoV-2.