Mexico's Director of the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt) has announced the development of a Mexican-made COVID-19 vaccine, 'Patria', CNN news website revealed on Wednesday.

According to Conacyt, the development of the Patria vaccine has already successfully passed preclinical studies in animals and will begin a Phase I trial in humans in April this year with about 90 to 100 volunteers.

Conacyt director Maria Elena Alvarez-Buylla said that the vaccine was being developed as part of a mixed investment strategy and collaboration between the Government of Mexico and the Mexican laboratory Avimex, which develops biological and pharmaceutical products for animal health. She also stated that the dose is based on a recombinant Newcastle virus.

Mexico's health regulator, Cofepris anticipates human trial results by May and if successful, the Patria vaccine could be approved by the end of 2021.