(Yicai Global) Oct. 30 -- China's Zhifei Biological Products has taken a bit more than three months to complete its phase II clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate, which could make it the fifth Chinese immunization option to enter human trials.

The wrapped up phase I and II have given critical data to prove that the product is safe to use and that it generates immune system responses, which means that it is human trials next, the Chongqing-based vaccine maker said in a statement yesterday, without disclosing more details about the timing.

The recombinant vaccine is co-developed by Anhui province-based unit Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical and the Chinese Academy of Sciences's Institute of Microbiology. Phase II started on July 10, less than a month after phase I began.

Global drug giants are racing to come up with an inoculation to tackle the global Covid-19 pandemic. China has four candidates that have entered phase III clinical trials. Three of them are inactivated vaccines, and one uses an adenoviral vector.

Zhifei's stock price [SHE:300122] soared 10 percent yesterday as investors anticipated positive clinical trial results but by this noon, the surge was tamed as the equity price was just 0.12 up at CNY161.31 (USD24.10).

Editor: Emmi Laine