The University of Queensland's recombinant vaccine against COVID-19 yesterday joined over 20 other projects in progressing to human trials.
The vaccine, which is being developed in collaboration with CSL, is part of the global race to beat the pandemic.
CSL has already started manufacturing the vaccine at one of its Melbourne-based facilities with potential approval in the first half of 2021.
A vaccine against COVID-19 appears increasingly likely with several already in late-stage trials - the discussion has moved to supply and distribution.
In terms of timing, the University of Queensland's vaccine might be slightly behind others, with the chief executives of Pfizer and AstraZeneca suggesting their candidates could be approved for use by as early of October this year.
The federal government is significantly invested in the University of Queensland-CSL vaccine. Its interest in any other vaccine remains unclear.
In could be a question of just a few months but it is hard to imagine a situation where an Australian political leader is having to justify a wait of months while tens of millions of people in North America, Europe and other regions are vaccinated against COVID-19.
