Butantan Institute, a biomedical research centre in Brazil, has developed a potential COVID-19 vaccine and will seek regulatory approval to begin human trials, according to two sources familiar with the matter, Reuters news agency reported on Friday,

The sources said that Butantan plans to test the vaccine, named Butanvac, on 1,800 volunteers over two phases.

This vaccine has been 100% developed in Brazil by an international consortium that also includes Vietnam and Thailand.

Production on a large scale is anticipated to start in May 2021.