India aims to launch indigenous Covid-19 vaccine by Aug 15 with ICMR partnering with Bharat Biotech
New Delhi/IBNS: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to fast-track the clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine, giving India a chance to come up with its indigenous cure for the deadly virus, media reports said.
ICMR director general Balram Bhargava said in a statement as quoted by Zee News, "It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by 15th August 2020 after completion of all clinical trials. BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target, however, final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project."
The statement further read, "This is the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India and is one of the top priority projects which is being monitored at the topmost level of the Government.
"The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. ICMR and BBIL are jointly working for the preclinical as well as clinical development of this vaccine."
Bharat Biotech's vaccine candidate COVAXIN had received the nod of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Jun 30.
The Drug Controller General of India - CDSCO, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has already granted permission to start phase I and phase II of human trials after the company showed the preclinical studies, demonstrating safety and immune response.
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