Before launching the vaccine, Bharat Biotech wants to do clinical research of the highest standards
Bharat Biotech International, the developers of India’s ‘first’ indigenous COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN, said it cannot rush to launch the drug as safety and quality are paramount.
With a single-day spike of 62,064 cases, India's COVID-19 tally zoomed to 22,15,074, while the death toll climbed to 44,386 with 1,007 more fatalities, the Union Health Ministry said on August 10.
The growing COVID-19 cases is putting pressure on the company to come out with a vaccine quickly, said a report by Business Standard citing Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Biotech International.
“But for us, safety and quality are paramount. We don't want to kill more people with the wrong vaccine,” Ella said during an interaction with members of the Chennai International Centre on 'COVID-19 Endgame Scenarios'.
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The Hyderabad-based pharma firm is working on developing COVAXIN in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV). The vaccine has completed phase-I clinical trials against COVID-19, said the report.
Before launching the vaccine, the pharma firm wants to do clinical research of the highest standards, Ella was quoted as saying.
“We have been monitored by international agencies and communities. It's a matter of prestige for the country and for us. We won't be shortsighted on research and will produce the best quality vaccine,” said Ella.
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Talking about the Indian vaccine industry, Ella reportedly said that it is not inferior to the MNCs of Europe and the US, and is far ahead of the Chinese in technology and clinical research.
“Indian vaccine makers have proved they can develop quality and affordable vaccines. A few years back, our company launched a rotavirus vaccine for $1, when global major GSK supplied it for $85, with the same parameters and quality,” Ella said.
Speaking about pricing of COVID-19 vaccine, he said that Bharat Biotech will make it very affordable and accessible for everyone, he said.
Ella further said that people should not get paranoid due to COVID-19, as it will lead to other problems.
“More people die in road accidents than COVID-19,” Ella reportedly said.
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