The president of the Turkish Health Institutes (TUSEB), Dr Erhan Akdoğan, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the development process of Turkovac, the country’s first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine which is currently undergoing phase III clinical studies. Dr Akdoğan took over TUSEB, and the nine institutes under its responsibility, in the middle of the pandemic. He comments on the overlooked Turkish R&D capabilities, their work on a national genomic project, and the big opportunity to leverage the country’s vast patient data to create new health technology.
Our aim is to produce Turkovac as soon as possible to inoculate the Turkish nation, and later send it to other countries, especially the ones that have not received enough supply to inoculate their vulnerable population.
