COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech could be launched by Feb 2021

Nov. 5: Bharat Biotech, a private company that is developing COVAXIN with the Indian government-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) seems to be ahead in the race. The COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech could be launched as early as February – months earlier than expected – as last-stage trials begin this month and studies have so far showed it is safe and effective. Rajni Kant, Senior ICMR scientist and member of its COVID-19 task-force, said this at the research body’s New Delhi headquarters on Thursday.

The new development has pushed up the launch date, as earlier it was expected to launch in June 2021. “It is expected that by the beginning of next year, February or March, something would be available,” said the scientist.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine maker, Bharat Biotech had applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on October 2, seeking its permission to conduct Phase 3 trials for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Besides, Bharat Biotech, an indigenously developed vaccine candidate by Zydus Cadila Ltd and Pune-based Serum Institute of India, which has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate are also in Phase 2 of human clinical trials.