Coronavirus Vaccine by Oxford: Serum Institute of India to Start Licensure Trials, Manufacturing of AZD1222 Soon
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, said the institute will apply for the licensure trials of the AstraZeneca-Oxford-made COVID-19 vaccine in a week's time.
New Delhi, July 21: After a potential coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, showed positive results in phase-1 clinical trials, the Serum Institute of India (SII) has said it will seek the government's nod to conduct clinical trials of the shot in India. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, said the institute will apply for the licensure trials of the AstraZeneca-Oxford-made COVID-19 vaccine in a week's time. COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Here's The Latest on Oxford-Astrazeneca, Moderna, Covaxin And Sinovac.
"The trials have shown promising results and we are extremely happy about it. We will be applying for the licensure trials to the Indian regulator in a week's time. As soon as they grant us permission, we will begin with trials for the vaccine in India. In addition, we will soon start manufacturing the vaccine in large volumes," Adar Poonawalla said while commenting on the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine's results. UK Signs Deals for 90 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses.
Serum Institute of India, the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world, is a partner in the Oxford University's project for developing a vaccine for coronavirus and has been chosen by Oxford and AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine once it gets ready. On Monday, the first results of Oxford University's vaccine, called AZD1222, showed that it is safe and provokes an immune reaction in a person that lasts for almost two months.
The results showed the vaccine boosted T cell and antibody immunity. The vaccine produced strong responses on both accounts, the study found, with T cell immunity peaking after two weeks and then dropping slightly by day 56. Antibody immunity, on the other hand, peaked after four weeks and remained high by day 56, indicating that it may well last for even longer.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2020 11:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).