COVID-19: Bharat Biotech's Covaxin phase-3 trials to take place in Lucknow and Gorakhpur

Uttar Presh government on September 23 has allowed phase-3 trials of Coronavirus vaccine 'Covaxin' in two cities. COVID vaccine is currently being tested by Bharat Biotech Ltd in collaboration with ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research). ditional Chief Secretary (Health and Medicine) Amit Mohan Pras conveyed government’s permission to test anti-COVID-19 vaccine in Luckw and Gorakhpur through a letter to Bharat Biotech International Limited’s director V Krishna Mohan.

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Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin'' gets permission for phase-3 trials 

For phase-3 trials of Bharat Biotech's Coronavirus vaccine in Luckw, Dr R K Dhiman, director of Sanjay Gandhi Post Gruate Institute of Medical Sciences has been me dal person. For Gorakhpur, Dr Ganesh Kumar, Principal of BRD Medical College has been me dal officer. All permissions will have to be obtained by you and all safety and or protocols will have to be followed as per guidelines of Government of India for conducting clinical trials, he ded.

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“Kindly refer to your letter dated September 19, 2020, for permission and facilitation to initiate COVAXIN Phase 3 Efficacy and Safety clinical trials in Uttar Presh. It has been decided to allow Bharat Biotech to conduct Phase-3 trial in Luckw and Gorakhpur," Pras said in his letter.

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COVID-19 vaccine: 'Covaxin'

Covaxin is first of indigeusly developed vaccines against COVID-19 by India.  vaccine is being developed Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV). Besides Covaxin, India has two more vaccine candidates in run. Ahmedab based Zydus Cila's ZyCoV-D and ar one is being developed by Serum Institute of India in collaboration with Oxford University vaccine and UK's Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. 

COVID-19 on rise in India

total coronavirus cases in country reached 57,32,518 including 9,66,382 active cases, 46,74,987 cured/discharged/migrated and 91,149 deaths, as per Health Ministry data. Moreover, India scaled ar peak after its cumulative tests surpassed 6 crores on September 17. As per ICMR's latest update on Twitter, over 6,74,36. 031 Coronavirus samples have been tested up to September 23. 

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(With ncy inputs)