The US State Department has confirmed that Anthony Blinken's visit to the ASEAN region to raise US-ASEAN ties to a level “never seen before” includes stops in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The US Secretary of State would visit Southeast Asia, or ASEAN, during 13-16 December. His visit to Thailand would include discussions about protecting the health of people in the region.
The bilateral US-Thailand relationship may soon play a major role in protecting the population of Southeast Asia from COVID-19. Negotiations have been underway since October between American vaccine maker INOVIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and several Thai parties, including National Vaccine Institute (NVI ) and Innobic (Asia) Company Limited along with other investors.
The intent is to establish vaccine trials, manufacturing, and cooperation in medical research and development that will benefit the region’s population of two billion people. With its innovative DNA-based medicine platform, INOVIO may also establish a medical science role within Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor.
While details are still being discussed, plans include Phase 3 trials of INOVIO’s COVID-19 vaccine in India, booster trials in Thailand, and scaled vaccine manufacturing in the region. INOVIO’s vaccine, which is entirely organic with no synthetic ingredients, is injected in the skin and then introduced through the cellular wall using an electroporation delivery device.
This method is designed to generate immunity to COVID-19 combining antibodies as well as a strong T-cell response. INOVIO medicines have been in development for 20 years, and Phase 1 and 2 trials have recorded an excellent safety profile, without severe side effects.
INOVIO’s vaccine was the only DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine selected by the World Health Organization to participate in its international “Solidarity” Phase 3 trial. The company has also obtained approval for Phase 3 trials in the Philippines, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil.
Unlike other types of COVID-19 vaccines that must be maintained at very cold temperatures, INOVIO’s vaccine remains potent for a year at room temperature without refrigeration. This can save logistical expenses and enable more people to be vaccinated at a lower cost.
While it prepares to play a significant role in meeting the vaccination needs of the global population, INOVIO has enlisted as strategic advisor, General Gus Perna, the retired US Army General who ran Operation Warp Speed in 2020 in the United States.
General Perna previously served as Commander of the US Army Materiel Command, and before that was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics.