·         CanSinoBIO co-hosts the 1^st Sino-Indonesian TB Forum with Etana during the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.

·         Two parties will explore collaboration on the development of inhaled TB and COVID-19 vaccines.

Bali, Indonesia, November 17, 2022 – CanSino Biologics Inc. (“CanSinoBIO”) (SSE: 688185, HKEX: 06185) today announced it will join hands with PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia (“Etana”) and scientists and researchers specialized in respiratory infections and tuberculosis (“TB”) from China and Indonesia to collaborate on inhaled vaccine development targeting TB and COVID-19. This collaboration was announced during the inaugural Sino-Indonesian TB Forum held in Bali, Indonesia from November 16 to 17, 2022, co-hosted by CanSinoBIO and Etana.

In support of the 17^th G20 Summit under the theme of “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”, CanSinoBIO initiated this bilateral collaboration with Indonesian partners on vaccine development, aiming at introducing the latest advanced technologies and best practices concerning mucosal immunization in combating TB and COVID-19 infections in Indonesia and across the globe.

“I am thrilled to see corporates and academia around the world joining forces to contribute to the advancement of mucosal immunity studies,” said Dr. Xuefeng YU, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CanSinoBIO. “Building upon our decade-long dedication to the R&D of mucosal vaccines and related technologies, CanSinoBIO has achieved remarkable growth and succeeded in developing the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine for inhalation that demonstrates the benefits of mucosal vaccine. I look forward to working alongside more experts in Indonesia and the world to continue our commitment to defeat diseases through science and collaboration, improve equitable access to high-quality and innovative vaccines for people in need, and work together as a global community with a shared future.”

According to the WHO, TB remains a significant public health issue in Indonesia that requires immediate solutions. Under the collaboration framework, scientists and researchers from China and Indonesia will engage in R&D, including clinical studies of TB vaccines. CanSinoBIO will also partner with Etana to explore further opportunities including the technological transfer of CanSinoBIO’s adenoviral vector platform, clinical trials of CanSinoBIO’s vaccines, and the establishment of local fill & finish facilities, to further Indonesia’s efforts in becoming a regional vaccine production center.  

Mucosal immune response develops in the respiratory tract, where diseases take hold, and thus it can reduce virus carriage and prevent potential transmission to other individuals. According to a WHO interim statement on COVID-19 vaccines in March 2022[1], vaccines that are able to elicit mucosal immunity may be a desirable option, as it can prevent infection and transmission of the virus, in addition to providing protection against severe diseases.

CanSinoBIO has been at the forefront of vaccine innovation, and is a pioneer in mucosal vaccine development. Currently, CanSinoBIO’s COVID-19 vaccine for Inhalation, Convidecia Air™, utilizing Aerogen’s proprietary aerosol drug delivery technology, has been rolled out in the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang in China. The Company is working on conducting additional clinical studies in countries in Southeast Asia and South America and hoping to release the vaccine in more countries by the end of the year. 

[1] Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/08-03-2022-interim-statement-on-covid-19-vaccines-in-the-context-of-the-circulation-of-the-omicron-sars-cov-2-variant-from-the-who-technical-advisory-group-on-covid-19-vaccine-composition-(tag-co-vac)-08-march-2022