Coronavirus outbreak: Serum Institute pauses COVID-19 vaccine trials in India

Updated: 10 September, 2020 16:08 IST | IANS | Mumbai

We are following DCGI's instructions and will not be able to comment further on trials, the Serum Institute of India said

This picture has been used for representational purpose only
This picture has been used for representational purpose only

The Serum Institute of India (SII), which was conducting the India trials for the coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University, on Thursday paused the clinical trials of the vaccine in India.

In a statement, the Serum Institute of India said: "We are reviewing the situation and pausing India trials till AstraZeneca restarts the trials. We are following DCGI's instructions and will not be able to comment further on trials."

The declaration by the Pune-based vaccine manufacturer came a day after the Drug Control General of India (DCGI), V.G. Somani, issued a show-cause notice to them asking for an explanation as to why the institute decided to go ahead with the clinical trial of Covid-19 vaccine candidate while doubts about patient safety are yet unclear.

The notice was issued in the wake of an advert incident where one of the participants in the UK reported a suspected severe adverse reaction when administered a booster dose of Covishield, a vaccine candidate developed jointly by pharma giant AstraZeneca and University of Oxford, on Tuesday.

"Whereas, Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd, Pune, till now has not informed the Central licensing authority regarding pausing the clinical trial carried out by AstraZeneca in other countries and also not submitted casualty analysis of the reported serious adverse event with the investigational vaccine for the continuation of phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of the subject vaccine in the country in light of the safety concerns," the notice by DGCI read.

The DGCI further asked the institute why the authority does not suspend the permission given to the SII for the clinical trials of Covishield.

"In view of the above, I, Dr V G Somani, Drugs Controller General of India and Central Licensing Authority hereby give you an opportunity to show cause as provided under rule 30 of the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, why the permission granted to you August 2 shall not be suspended till patient safety is established," the notice further said.

SII is the partner of the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute's to conduct the vaccine trials. SII is currently progressing the second and third phase study of the vaccine candidate at 17 trial sites across India.

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All you need to know about Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V
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    Russia became the first country to register the world's first COVID-19 vaccine that "forms stable cell and antibody immunity". The vaccine Sputnik V, which is named after the space satellite launched by Moscow in 1957, was registered on August 11, 2020. Russia President Vladimir Putin said that one of his daughters has already been inoculated and she is feeling well.

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    Russia is the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic after the US, Brazil, and India. The vaccine has been jointly developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.

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    According to Johns Hopkins University, the overall number of coronavirus cases across the globe has reached 21.7 million, while the death toll has reached 7,75,244. As of August 16, Russia has tallied a total of 917,884 cases, with 15,617 deaths.

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    In photo: The COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Pic/Russian Direct Investment Fund/AFP

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    In photo: A view of the pharmaceutical factory Binnofarm in the town of Zelenograd outside Moscow, where Russia is starting to produce the anti-coronavirus vaccine.

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About the gallery

Russia, which last week became the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COID-19 vaccine amid scepticism from the global scientific community, has started manufacturing vaccine Sputnik V. Russia also released a 38-second video, created by the Russian Direct Investment Fund, showing how Sputnik V will slowly eradicates coronavirus. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that three vaccines are in the stage of clinical testing in India and mass production will begin as soon as scientists give green signal. (All photos/AFP)

First Published: 10 September, 2020 15:52 IST

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