Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 29

Seven Indian Covid-19 vaccine projects are currently at different stages of development with some industrial candidates likely to go into animal trial phase within weeks.

The Department of Biotechnology, designated as the central coordination agency for Covid-19 vaccine development in India, is currently monitoring all these projects of which four are being led by the industry and three by academia.

The industry-led efforts involve Serum Institute of India, Zydus Cadila, Biological E and Bharat Biotech. Academic initiatives are being hosted by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; the National Institute of Immunology; DBT’s ICGEB and Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today said, “The country is eagerly waiting for the contribution of scientists in the fields of developing indigenous RTPCR Covid-19 test kits, rapid antibody kits, vaccines and drugs. Timeliness is important.”

The Serum Institute of India recently announced to begin working on the production of a vaccine developed by Oxford University within two-three weeks. The Oxford University-Serum Institute collaborative vaccine is among the only six worldwide to enter animal trial stage.

Zydus Cadila is working on two approaches. The first approach involves developing DNA vaccine against the major viral membrane protein that helps Covid virus penetrate the cell. The other line of research is on a live attenuated recombinant measles virus vectored vaccine.

Bharat Biotech is using its existing flu technology to see if the same can be modified for Covid-19. The IISc-Bangalore has developed an antigen and is working closely with Biological E to see if the project can be taken forward.

120 vaccine candidates proposed: WHO

New Delhi: The WHO on Wednesday organised a virtual meeting of vaccine manufacturers and national regulatory authorities from its South-East Asia Region. The WHO said over 120 potential vaccine candidates had been proposed globally. Seven of them are in clinical evaluation and 82 vaccines are in pre-clinical evaluation stage, it added. TNS