On Aug. 5, 2020, BioNTech and Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical announced that the first 72 participants had been dosed with BNT162b1 following IND approval by the Chinese regulatory authority, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

BioNTech and Fosun Pharma are jointly developing the COVID-19 vaccine candidate in China. The trial is part of BioNTechﾒs global development program aimed at supporting a global supply upon regulatory approval.