Coronavirus Vaccine Latest Update: ICMR-Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccine trials to be fast-tracked

Coronavirus Covid-19 vaccine latest update, status, progress, human trials, latest news: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has shot off letters to hospitals and medical institutions across India to expedite the clinical trial approvals for Covaxin. (Reuters image)

Coronavirus Covid-19 vaccine latest update, status, progress, human trials, latest news: India may have ICMR-Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin trial results by August 15, as per an ANI report. The central government has also given its nod for a clinical trial for coronavirus COVID19 vaccine of Zydus Cadila in India.

Meanwhile, Oxford,  Pfizer Inc., and BioNTech coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine trials have shown positive results. Coronavirus has thrown a challenge in front of humankind and researchers around the world are endeavouring tirelessly towards developing the COVID-19 vaccine. As per the latest information, scientists are working on more than 150 probable vaccines for coronavirus. Out of these, 130 are at preclinical phases, 13 are at Phase I, nine have managed to reach Phase II, three are at Phase III.

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine India COVAXIN

India is making significant progress in producing indigenous coronavirus COVID 19 vaccine – Covaxin. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has shot off letters to hospitals and medical institutions across India to expedite the clinical trial approvals for Covaxin. ICMR is developing Covaxin in collaboration with Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and the National Institute of Virology (NIV). So far, 12 clinical sites have identified and the clinical trial process is likely to begin on July 7. The clinical trial of BBV152 COVID vaccine has been termed as “top priority projects which is being monitored at the top-most level of the government”. Results of the clinical trials are likely to be launched by August 15, as per ANI report.

Assam’s Dibrugarh-based Regional Medical Research Centre has successfully isolated SARS-CoV-2 virus. This can be used for the production of a Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine, state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was quoted as saying by PTI. The RMRC has become the third government laboratory in the country after the NIV, Pune; and the CCMB, Hyderabad, to isolate the virus.

Clinical trial for COVID19 vaccine of Zydus Cadila in India

News agency ANI reported a Health Ministry official as saying that permission for Phase I/II clinical trial for COVID19 vaccine of Zydus Cadila was granted today as a rapid response after recommendation by Subject Expert Committee.

Vaccine candidate by Pfizer, BioNtech shows promise in early trials

According to a study, the COVID-19 vaccine candidate, tested by the American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, and German biotech firm BioNTech SE, is safe, well-tolerated, and can generate antibodies in people. The research has been published in the preprint server medRxiv. It is, however, yet to be peer-reviewed, PTI reported today. The report describes the preliminary clinical data for the candidate vaccine — nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA), BNT162b1.

Coronavirus COVID19 Pfizer, BioNTech

The US-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and European biotechnology company BioNTech SE have joined hands to produce coronavirus covid19 vaccine. The initial experimental trial has shown that the COVID-19 vaccine is capable of generating antibodies in the patients and found as safe and well-tolerated.

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine Oxford

University of Oxford’s potential Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine trial has got “right sort of immune response”. A professor of vaccinology at the university said 8,000 volunteers were enrolled for the Phase III of its trial into the vaccine, AZD1222. This has been licensed to AstraZeneca. Phase III of the human trials will assess and monitor how the vaccine works in a large number of people over the age of 18, and how well the vaccine works to prevent people from becoming infected and unwell with COVID-19, as per Reuters report.

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine USA Moderna

US-based pharmaceutical giant Moderna Inc. has shown many promises with its probable Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine. In July, the company will start the largest phase of the clinical trials of its Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine. The top official has revealed that the results of the company’s vaccine ‘mRNA-1273’ will be out by October this year.

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine China

China has been developing its own Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine through a research and biotech firm, CanSino. The organization has started clinical trials. However, China’s Central Military Commission has given its approval for use in a restricted manner. Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences is co-producing the Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine.

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine Imperial College of London

Imperial College of London has successfully started phase I clinical trial for its Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine. The UK government is funding the research process for this vaccine. The organization is hopeful about achieving final results by the first half of next year.

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine Sanofi GlaxoSmithKline

Two pharmaceutical giants Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline have joined together to produce a Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine. Sanofi has stated that it was hopeful of speeding the process of phase I and II from September to December. The company has promised to produce as many as 100 million vaccine doses.

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine Thailand

Thailand-based medical researchers have been working on developing a coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine. Chulalongkorn University’s Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development has yielded positive results during the animal testing phase and is hopeful of starting human clinical trials in October.