Serum Institute's Adar Poonawalla Says 300-400 Million Doses Of ¡®Covishield¡¯ Will Be Ready By December

Serum Institute of India is now preparing for the phase 3 clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford.

According to an NDTV report, the Indian company collaborating with the British expert said that the vaccine developed at Oxford University will be in India by November.

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The institute has partnered with biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to mass-produce the Oxford vaccine.

Poonawala confirmed 50 per cent of the vaccines that will be manufactured by his firm will be supplied to India and that it will mostly be purchased by governments, and people will receive them free of cost through immunisation programmes, reports India Today.

Also Read: Serum Institute Of India Expects To Develop Effective & Safe COVID-19 Vaccine By Year-End

Serum Institute of India: Covishield

The Serum Institute of India on Monday said it will apply for a licence to start clinical trials of the coronavirus vaccine developed at Oxford University.

The Pune firm is the world¡¯s largest vaccine-maker in terms of the number of doses produced and sold globally.

According to reports, there will be a few million vaccine doses by November-December and 300 million doses by January-March, 2021. The vaccine will be called Covishield. Additionally, the phase 3 trials will have 4,000-5,000 participants.

¡°We want to make sure we don¡¯t rush so we make the best vaccine; safest and which gives you the longest term protection so you don¡¯t have to keep come back for a shot,¡± Poonawalla said in an interview with News1 8. ¡°That¡¯s why we bet on five other candidates as well. Almost every two months we plan to launch a new COVID vaccine.¡±

Congratulations to the teams at @UniofOxford and @AstraZeneca for getting this product data, out. It all seems to be doing well. Hope to get positive results in the phase three trials in a few months. We also hope to start phase three trials in India soon. #COVID19vaccine https://t.co/Zroalob7mO

¡ª Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) July 21, 2020

"We are confident on going on to the Phase 3 trials in India in August and we forecast that it will take probably two to two-and-half months to complete... By November, we hope to launch the vaccine if the trials are positive and if the Drug Controller of India blesses it and says it is safe and effective," Mr Poonawala told NDTV.

Also Read: ICMR Invites Vaccine Makers To Develop Its Anti-Serum Against COVID-19

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In an interview with the Live Mint, Adar Poonawaala said, "Our facility is well-equipped with state-of-the-art technology to manufacture Covishield. Keeping in mind the pandemic situation, we have two dedicated facilities to produce millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while withholding vast production of other products."

On the efficacy of the Oxford vaccine, Poonawalla told NDTV that all other vaccines are usually 70% to 80% effective. However, it will require time to prove its effectiveness. The Serum Institute CEO said it was too early to comment on the vaccine¡¯s cost, but ¡°we will keep it under Rs 1,000¡±.

The India Today report quoted him as saying, "We are planning to put the price at around Rs 1,000 or less than that per dose. I don't think any individual will have to pay for it because the vaccines will mostly be bought by governments and then distributed free through the immunisation programmes."

The firm is seeking regulatory clearances to conduct Phase 3 human trials of the Oxford University vaccine in India so that the vaccine can be manufactured at a mass scale if the results are favourable.