Track COVID-19 Vaccines Advancing Through Clinical Trials

Find the latest updates in this one-stop resource, including efficacy data and side effects of approved shots, as well as progress on new candidates entering human studies.

Written byThe Scientist
| 46 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
46:00
Share

ABOVE: © ISTOCK.COM,
VLADIMIR MANDIC

The first COVID-19 vaccine candidate was administered during a clinical trial in March 2020, a triumph shared worldwide by all those working to overcome the deadly virus. A year later, there are almost 100 vaccines being tested in human trials, including new approaches to immunization whose development has been accelerated by the pandemic. Researchers are now working not just to prevent COVID-19 infections, but to prevent reinfection and address emerging variants as well.

Below, The Scientist rounds up those vaccine candidates that have advanced to clinical trials.

Editor’s note: The introduction of this story was updated on April 15, 2021.

DEVELOPER(S)

VACCINE METHOD

EVIDENCE

STATUS

Finlay Vaccine Institute/Pasteur Institute

Cuba, Iran

A conjugate vaccine composed of the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein connected chemically to a modified tetanus protein

The vaccine is known as Soberana-02 or FINLAY-FR-2.

A second Phase 3 trial is ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here
July Digest 2025
July 2025, Issue 1

What Causes an Earworm?

Memory-enhancing neural networks may also drive involuntary musical loops in the brain.

View this Issue
Explore synthetic DNA’s many applications in cancer research

Weaving the Fabric of Cancer Research with Synthetic DNA

Twist Bio 
Illustrated plasmids in bright fluorescent colors

Enhancing Elution of Plasmid DNA

cytiva logo
An illustration of green lentiviral particles.

Maximizing Lentivirus Recovery

cytiva logo
Explore new strategies for improving plasmid DNA manufacturing workflows.

Overcoming Obstacles in Plasmid DNA Manufacturing

cytiva logo

Products

sartorius-logo

Introducing the iQue 5 HTS Platform: Empowering Scientists  with Unbeatable Speed and Flexibility for High Throughput Screening by Cytometry

parse_logo

Vanderbilt Selects Parse Biosciences GigaLab to Generate Atlas of Early Neutralizing Antibodies to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

shiftbioscience

Shift Bioscience proposes improved ranking system for virtual cell models to accelerate gene target discovery

brandtechscientific-logo

BRANDTECH Scientific Launches New Website for VACUU·LAN® Lab Vacuum Systems