Serum signs Covid vaccine deal with US-based Novavax; gets exclusive rights for India

American vaccine development company vavax Inc on Wednesday anunced that it has entered a supply and license agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII) for development and commercialization of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

According to media reports, Pune based SII will have exclusive rights for vaccine in India during term of deal and n-exclusive rights during “Pandemic Period” in all countries or than those designated by World Bank as upper-middle or high-income countries.

vavax could start Phase III trial in September

deal was signed on July 30, according to an SEC filing by vavax. On Tuesday, vavax reported that its experimental Coronavirus vaccine produced high levels of antibodies against virus in a small, early-st clinical trial and that it could start a large pivotal Phase III trial as soon as late September.

vavax research chief Gregory Glenn told Reuters late-st clinical trial could potentially glean eugh data to obtain regulatory approvals as early as December.

Maryland-based company's shares saw huge swings in extended tring as investors took a critical eye to early data on its experimental vaccine for COVID-19 following a 3,800% rally in stock this year. shares briefly fell as much as 34% postmarket on Tuesday, before paring decline. In tring before regular hours Wednesday, y were up 21%.

DCGI gives d to SII to conduct human trials

Meanwhile, last week,  Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gave d to Serum Institute of India for conducting phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of Oxford University's COVID-19 vaccine candidate in country.

RE | Maj Sinha appointed new J&K Lieutenant Goverr; GC Murmu's resignation accepted

Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cila, which have been conducting early-st testing of ir candidates Covaxin and ZyCov-D over last 20 days, are also starting second phase trials, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava said on Tuesday.

RE | vavax claims its experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced high levels of antibodies

With a single-day spike of 56,282 new COVID-19 cases and 904 deaths in last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 tally reached 19,64,537 on Thursday. With increase of 904 deaths, toll due to disease w stands at 40,699 in country, according to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). COVID-19 count includes 5,95,501 active cases and 13,28,337 cured/discharged/migrated patients.

RE | US grants $1.6 billion to vavax for COVID-19 vaccine project under Operation Warp Speed

RE | Omar Abdullah has intriguing first response to Maj Sinha's appointment as J&K's new L-G

(With ncy inputs)