Coronavirus vaccine takes at least one year: European Medicines Agency

A COVID-19 vaccine might be ready and available in at least one year, the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday.

"Vaccine development timelines are difficult to predict," EMA said on its website. "Based on past experience, EMA estimates that it might take at least a year before a vaccine against COVID-19 is ready for approval and available in sufficient quantities to enable widespread use."

EMA has been in discussion with developers of 33 potential COVID-19 vaccines and also with developers of around 115 potential COVID-19 treatments.

Among other potential treatments undergoing clinical trials include lopinavir/ritonavir, currently used as an anti-HIV medicine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, currently used as treatments against malaria and certain autoimmune diseases.