Indigenous mRNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Could Go Into Clinical Trial By Year-End In India

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has facilitated the establishment of the ¡®first-of-its-kind¡¯ mRNA-based vaccine manufacturing platform in India. It has provided seed funding for the development of Gennova¡¯s novel self-amplifying mRNA-based vaccine candidate for COVID19.

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According to the ministry, Gennova has developed an mRNA vaccine candidate (HGCO19) in collaboration with HDT Biotech Corporation, Seattle, USA. The vaccine candidate has demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, neutralization antibody activity in rodent and non-human primate models.

The company is working aggressively to ensure first human injection by the end of the year, subject to Indian regulatory approvals, informed a release from the Ministry of Science & Technology.

The novel mRNA vaccine candidate, HGCO19, has all the necessary arsenal to guide the host cells to make the antigen -spike protein of the virus, reported to interact with host cells receptor, and supported by ¡®lipid inorganic nanoparticle (LION)¡¯ as a delivery vehicle.

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Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company dedicated to the research, development, production, and commercialization of biotherapeutics.

¡°Bold moves are necessary to create globally competitive and sustainable solutions. Gennova appreciates DBT- BIRAC¡¯s initiative, guidance, and financial support towards the development of mRNA based next-generation vaccine. Our partnership is poised towards creating an eco-system for cutting-edge technology, providing solution towards making a cost-effective vaccine that can reach to the masses in a pandemic situation like COVID-19¡± Dr Sanjay Singh, CEO of Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, said.

¡°Diseases emanating from unknown and new pathogens require novel ideas for effective mitigation. Gennova¡¯s mRNA platform supported by DBT utilizes the advances in nucleic acid vaccine and delivery systems. This vaccine candidate that makes use of nanotechnology has shown promise to be effective in animal models. With the kind of capacities that Gennova has, I am confident that this vaccine candidate can be rapidly scaled up, once proven effective in human clinical trials,¡± Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary, DBT and Chairperson, BIRAC, said.

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Human trials using the vaccine candidates of two Indian firms, Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila are already underway in the country.

Both BB and Zydus were granted permission for Phase I and II clinical trials and administered the first doses of their vaccine candidates to volunteers on July 15.

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BB¡¯s Covaxin, which is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), will be tested at 12 hospitals in 12 cities.

Testing of Zydus¡¯s candidate, ZyCoV-D, is currently limited to its research centre in Ahmedabad, but will be extended to multiple cities.

Disclaimer: While there have been several different types of treatments being given to COVID-19 patients across the world, there isn't any one drug that has worked as a sure-shot treatment yet. Don¡¯t self medicate/stock up and always consult your doctor/medical health professional.