Now, Covaxin is a universal vaccine for adults, children
Premium- 'Our goals of developing a global vaccine against Covid-19 have been achieved and all product development for licensure has been completed,' Bharat Biotech said
Hyderabad-based company Bharat Biotech on Thursday said that it's Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin is now a universal vaccine for adults and children. The firm has said that it's goal of developing a global vaccine against Covid-19 have been achieved.
“Our goals of developing a global vaccine against Covid-19 have been achieved and all product development for licensure has been completed," Bharat Biotech said.
Bharat Biotech has also said that Covaxin can neutralise both Delta and Omicron variants of Covid-19. It also mentioned that earlier studies demonstrated the neutralising potential of Covaxin against SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Alpha, Beta, Delta, Zeta and Kappa.
Earlier today, Bharat Biotech has sought from the Drugs Controller General of India regular market approval for ‘Covaxin’, which is currently only authorised for emergency use in the country.
In an application sent to the DCGI, V Krishna Mohan, Whole-Time Director at the Hyderabad-based firm submitted complete information regarding chemistry, manufacturing and controls, along with pre-clinical and clinical data while seeking regular market authorisation for Covaxin.
The firm, however, is yet to submit the full follow up data of clinical trila of Covaxin to DCGI, a source said.
On October 25, Prakash Kumar Singh, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII) had submitted an application to the DCGI seeking regular market authorization for Covishield which is also authorised for emergency use in the country.
In response to the application, DCGI had asked for some more information following which Singh last week submitted a response along with all desired data and information to DCGI.
In addition to the successful completion of phase 2/3 clinical study in India, till now, more than 100 crore doses of Covishield vaccine have been administered to the people in India and worldwide, Singh is learnt to have stated in the response.
Such a large-scale vaccination with Covishield and containment of Covid-19 infection is in itself a testimony of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, he said.
Meanwhile, Covaxin comprises 12 per cent of the total Covid-19 vaccine jabs administered in the country so far and it is the only vaccine that is being given to youngsters in the age-group of 15-18 years, inoculation of whom began from January 3 in the country.
Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) took up the challenge to develop, produce and clinically evaluate a Covid-19 vaccine (Covaxin), from the SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from Covid-19 patients in India, Mohan said in the application.
It was granted the permission to manufacture Covaxin for restricted use in emergency situations on January 3.
"In the current submission, all the required complete information regarding Chemistry. Manufacturing and Controls, along with the Pre-clinical and Clinical data have been provided in five modules. The information contained in the modules is uploaded on SUGAM portal for your kind perusal. We request you to kindly review the same and grant the marketing authorisation, at the earliest," the application by Mohan read.
With the administration of more than 76 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses in a span of 24 hours, the country’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 154.61 crore as per provisional reports till 7 am today.
With agency inputs
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