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Johnson & Johnson said Friday it was preparing to resume the clinical trial of its experimental vaccine to fight COVID-19, which was suspended last week after a volunteer fell ill.

J&J said it was "planning to resume " for the phase 3 trial, which began in late September and should ultimately include 60,000 participants.

"After a thorough evaluation of a serious medical event experienced by one study participant, no clear cause has been identified," the group said in a statement.

"The company has found no evidence that the vaccine candidate caused the event."