India to make Covaxin available in Q2 2021: Reports

Last updated on February 20th, 2023 at 01:19 pm

As per the official reports, the first vaccine being developed in India–Covaxin will be launched by the second quarter next year. The company official confirmed that once it is approved the vaccine will be made available to the public.

“If we get all the approvals after establishing strong experimental evidence and data, and efficacy and safety data in our last stage of trials, we aim to launch the vaccine in Q2 of 2021,” said the executive director of Bharat Biotech International Ltd,, Sai Prasad.

If we get all the approvals after establishing strong experimental evidence and data, and efficacy and safety data in our last stage of trials, we aim to launch the vaccine in Q2 of 2021

Bharat Biotech International Ltd,, Sai Prasad

Till now, the Hyderabad based firm has received permission from authorities to conduct trials for phase III of the covid vaccine. Covaxin is being developed in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV) using inactivated Sars-Cov-2, which causes Covid-19.

The preparation for phase III trial will start from November where recruitment of volunteers and dosage will be done. The trail will be conducted across 13-14 Indian states and will cover 25-30 sites, says a report of PTI.

Given the demand of the coronavirus vaccine, the amount being invested in it is equally high. Talking about the investment, he said, “ Our investment is about ₹350-400 crore for the development of vaccine and the new manufacturing facilities, which include our investments for conducting the Phase 3 clinical trial, in the next six months.”

And he clarified that the vaccine distribution will not be restricted to the government only as the company will also look for opportunity in private players and also explore the possibility of supplying to different countries.

During the second trial, the vaccine was tested in around 12 hospitals in the country and volunteers of age group 18-55 were targeted. The drug creator said that during the animal testing, the candidate was found to have developed robust immune system thus ensuring efficiency of the vaccine. The vaccine was found to be at least 60% effective. Sai Prasad asserted that the largest phase III vaccine trial will be conducted and results will be opened in 2021 May-April.

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