Drugmakers racing to develop a safe and efficient coronavirus vaccine pledged on Tuesday to ensure their clinical trials could consist of varied sets of volunteers.
In prepared remarks for a U.S. congressional hearing, several companies pledged to include broad representation as they prepare to start studies with tens of thousands of volunteers from the coming months.

"Ensuring diversity in these trials, including concerning race, ethnicity, gender, age, and other elements, is a priority in our efforts," Menelas Pangalos, AstraZeneca Plc's executive vice president of biopharmaceutical development &amp; research, said in prepared remarks prior to the hearing held by the House subcommittee on oversight and investigations.

A group of scientists and physicians urged the U.S. government to include Black, Latino and indigenous Americans in the design and implementation of COVID-19 vaccine trials in hopes of building confidence among those at-risk inhabitants.

Agents from Johnson &amp; Johnson, Moderna Inc, Pfizer Inc, and Merck &amp; Co Inc were also set to testify later on Tuesday from the hearing, that is focused on attempts to develop a secure, successful and available COVID-19 vaccine.

Over 150 vaccines are in development globally with an aim to help end the global pandemic which has claimed more than 600,000 lives. But if any will triumph remains far from apparent.

Historical data from trials of three potential COVID-19 vaccines published on Monday, including a closely watched candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford University, higher confidence that a vaccine can train the immune system to recognize and fight the novel coronavirus without serious side effects.