Chennai: It looks like India will get freedom from Covid-19 before the country’s Independence Day, as the first made-in-India coronavirus vaccine may be launched by 15 August, with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) fast-tracking efforts to develop “Covaxin” in partnership with Bharat Biotech International Limited.
A dozen institutes have been selected for clinical trials of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine (BBV152 COVID vaccine), the government’s top medical research body has said.
Meanwhile, Zydus has received approval from Indian regulators to begin human studies for its Covid-19 vaccine contender, the drugmaker said on today.
The potential vaccine showed a ‘strong immune response’ in animal studies, and the antibodies produced were able to completely neutralize the wild type virus, the company, part of Cadila Healthcare Ltd, said in a statement to Indian stock exchanges.