From Bharat Biotech to Serum Institute, 7 Indian firms in COVID-19 vaccine race

As Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc around world, several countries are vigorously engd in developing a vaccine for fatal disease which has infected over 14 million people so far. India, third worst-affected country with more than a million Covid-19 cases, is also involved in developing a vaccine for vel Coronavirus which originated from China’s Wuhan last year.

India is among biggest manufacturers of generic medicines and vaccines in world. re are seven major companies in country that are have joined in global efforts to prepare a vaccine for Covid-19.

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7 Indian firms developing COVID vaccine

Covaxin, Bharat Biotech:  vaccine was developed and manufactured in Hyderab. Human trials of Covaxin began last week. Bharat Biotech has received approval to conduct phase I and II clinical trial for its vaccine candidate.

AstraZeneca, Serum Institute of India: This vaccine candidate is undergoing phase III clinical trials and is expected to commence human trials this month. Serum Institute of India is hoping that AstraZeneca vaccine will be available by year-end.

ZyCoV-D, Zydus Cila:  clinical trials of vaccine candidate is expected to be completed in seven months. Last week Zydus Cila began clinical trials of ZyCoV-D with first human dosing.

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Vaccine candidate from Panacea Biotec: This company has set up a joint venture firm in Ireland with US-based Refana Inc to develop its vaccine candidate. Panacea Biotec said it will manufacture over 500 million doses of this unnamed Covid-19 candidate vaccine. Over 40 million doses are expected to be available for delivery early next year.

Indian Immulogicals vaccine:  vaccine candidate is a subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board. Indian Immulogicals has me an agreement with Australia’s Griffith University to develop a vaccine for vel coronavirus.

Mynvax:  vaccine candidate is expected to be developed in 18 months. It will began with two dozen doses and is currently at pre-clinical trial level. It has appealed to Biotechlogy Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) for Rs 15 crore grant to develop Mynvax.

Biological E:  vaccine candidate is currently at pre-clinical trial level.

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Coronavirus update

India has so far reported 23,96,637 COVID-19 cases of which 16,95,982 have recovered, while 47,033 have lost ir lives. active cases in country stand at 6,53,622.  need for a vaccine is of paramount importance in order to arrest speedy rise in cases and fully restart an ecomy that faces its worst downturn in over four deces.

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(Im credits: AP)