COVID-19: India’s first potential vaccine gets DCGI approval for trial

A vaccine for coronavirus (COVID-19), the first to be developed in India, has been given approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for Phase I and II human clinical trials starting from July.

COVAXIN the ppotential vaccine has been developed by Bharat Biotech, Hyderbad-based biotechnology firm in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

The company officially stated, "The SARS-CoV-2 strain was isolated in NIV, Pune and transferred to Bharat Biotech. The indigenous, inactivated vaccine was developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) High Containment facility located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, India."

According to reports, in May the Indian government said as many as 30 groups were working on a vaccine. A top scientific advisor to the government said efforts that normally took 15 years and cost US$300 million were being condensed into a 12-month period.