MERIDEN, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Scientists are developing a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, at Protein Sciences in Meriden.
Protein Sciences is working with the pharmaceutical company Sanofi which had a collaborative agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in February to begin development for a vaccine, according to Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz.
Sanofi is planning to develop a virus bank and a research lot to assure reproducible testing, Bysiewicz says. These are measures that were previously used by Protein Sciences when they developed a SARS vaccine, she says.
Protein Sciences officials say the development is still in its early stages, so it's hard to say when it will be available. However, they say they are working with federal agencies to explore all methods of accelerating the process.
Governor Ned Lamont toured the Protein Sciences lab with Bysiewicz Thursday morning.
Lamont says, "If we can't get this COVID-19 thing right, nobody can."
