KUALA LUMPUR: Solution Group Bhd (SGB) has announced that the CanSino Biologics Inc’s single-dose Convidecia vaccine has obtained conditional approval as a booster shot from Malaysia’s Drug Control Authority (DCA), under the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).

       SGB’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Solution Biologics Sdn Bhd (SOLBIO) is the Asean manufacturing partner of CanSino.

       In a statement, SGB said the DCA, in an announcement dated Jan 6, had consented for Convidecia, an adenovirus type-5 vector-based vaccine, to be used as a booster shot.

       The approval allows the CanSino vaccine to be used on adults aged 18 and above, three to six months after they have received their first dose of CanSino vaccine.

       SGB deputy managing director Datuk Dr. Mohd Nazlee Kamal said: “We are delighted that the DCA has approved CanSino's Convidecia vaccine as a booster shot.” “The Covid-19 cases remain high in the nation due to the Omicron variant of the virus, and just as with the reopening of the economy, there is a need to quicken the vaccine booster programme especially to difficult-to-reach areas and states with low booster dose rates,” he said.

       Mohd Nazlee said it was also working towards obtaining approval from NPRA for the Convidecia vaccine to be used as a booster for other primary vaccine recipients such as CoronoVac.

       “Apart from the Malaysian market, we are also in an advanced stage of negotiations with some of our neighbouring countries for the supply of single-dose Convidecia vaccine,” he said.

       SOLBIO has completed the delivery of 3.5 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to the Ministry of Health in December 2021.

       It is also expecting local production to start soon, as the fill-and-finish facility is undergoing the good manufacturing practice audit conducted by the NPRA with the certification expected to be issued by February 2022.