'Will file Rs. 100 cr defamation suit': Serum Institute after vaccine trial participant claims to fall ill

The participant has claimed he suffered "virtual neurological breakdown" after being administered a dose of the vaccine, named Covishield.

The Pune-based pharmaceutical company has termed the allegation as "malicious and misconceived".

Sympathising with the volunteer's medical condition, the SII said in a media statement, "The allegations in the notice are malicious and misconceived. While the Serum Institute of India is sympathetic with the volunteer's medical condition, there is absolutely no correlation with the vaccine trial and the medical condition of the volunteer.

"The volunteer is falsely laying the blame for his medical problems on the COVID vaccine trial."

"The claim is malicious because the volunteer was specifically informed by the medical team that the complications he suffered were independent of the vaccine trial he underwent. In spite of specifically being made aware of the same, he still chose to go public and malign the reputation of the company," the statement further added.

Earlier a 40-year old man from Chennai, who was a volunteer for the third phase of the trial of Covishield, had claimed Rs. five crore as compensation for "a serious adverse event after being administered the under-trial vaccine".

Covishield is one of the vaccine candidates which are in the final phase of trial.