SERUM INSTITUTE CEO SHARES BIG UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINE IN INDIA; SAYS 'WILL BE AFFORDABLE'   

As few vaccines are in the Phase II/III clinical trial in India, Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer (CEO), Serum Institute of India (SII) said that a safe and effective vaccine against novel coronavirus may be available in India by January 2021.

According to Hindustan Times report, SII joined hands with British-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca to produce the coronavirus vaccine for low-and-middle income countries which will be developed by the University of Oxford. 

Called as Covishield, the vaccine is currently in the Phase II/III clinical trial in the country.

"Based on the success of the trials in India and the United Kingdom, and if approvals from regulatory bodies are in place in time, then we can expect the vaccine to be available in India by January 2021, only if its proven immunogenic and efficacious, Poonawalla said in a recent interview with Mint.

"The current data pertaining to the trials show that there are no immediate concerns pertaining to Covishield. So far, thousands of people have had it in India and abroad with no safety concerns," Poonawalla added.

However, it will take two to three years to ascertain the long-term effects of the vaccine, he said. So far the Pune-based pharmaceutical company has shortlisted 17 sites in India for the Phase II clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine. 

Meanwhile, talking about the pricing of the Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine in the country, Poonawalla said, "We are in conversation with the government regarding the pricing. We are certain that it will be affordable for all."

Looking into the phase III trial, it began at a few sites last month with at least 1,600 candidates aged between 18 to 55, who participated. Also, the COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca, which is one of the most advanced candidates in the race against the novel coronavirus.

The Serum Institute of India, is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer that aims to initially manufacture about 60-70 million doses, and stretch it up to 100 million doses of the vaccine per month.