Biological-E COVID-19 vaccines may be available in few months as Centre pays advance for 30 crore doses

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KEY STORY
  • The Union Ministry of Health has paid an advance of Rs 1500 crore to Biological-E for 30 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine of Biological-E is currently undergoing Phase-3 clinical trial after showing promising results in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.
  • These vaccine doses will be manufactured and stockpiled by Hyderabad-based Biological-E from August-December 2021.

    Biological-E COVID-19 vaccine is an RBD protein sub-unit vaccine

     

  • The vaccine being developed by Biological-E is an RBD protein sub-unit vaccine and is likely to be available in the next few months, the Health Ministry said in a statement.
  • The proposal of Biological-E was examined and recommended for approval after due diligence by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC).
  • “The arrangement with Biological-E is part of the wider endeavour of Government of India to encourage indigenous vaccine manufacturers by providing them support in Research & Development (R&D) and also financial support,” the release said.
  • The Department of Biotechnology has not only provided financial assistance in terms of grant-in-aid of over Rs 100 crore but has also partnered with Biological-E to conduct all animal challenge and assay studies through its Research Institute Translational Health Science Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad.

GoI backs two PSUs, state-owned Haffkine Biopharma to produce Covaxin

  • The Union government has also supported Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) and BIBCOL and state-owned Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited to produce Covaxin under a technology transfer agreement with Bharat Biotech.
  • Mumbai-based Haffkine Biopharma will produce 22.8 crore doses per annum of Covaxin, Indian Immunologicals Limited will be in a position to start production of Covaxin from September 2021, while BIBCOL will start production of Covaxin from November 2021.
  • The Centre has provided Haffkine Biopharma with Rs 65 crore grant while the Maharashtra government has given Rs 94 crore.Sandeep Rathod, Managing Director of Haffkine BioPharma said that they have been given a timeline of eight months.
  • The work is being executed on a war footing, he added.

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