Phase-two clinical trials of Covaxin for Covid-19 to begin from Aug 10

COVAXIN, India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV). The indigenous, inactivated vaccine is developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech’s BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) high containment facility.

The vaccine received DCGI approval for Phase I & II Human Clinical Trials. The announcement was made by ICMR head Balram Bhargava at a recent press conference. Adding that phase I testing was being completed in several centres across the country, the two vaccines are now undergoing studies for phase II:

“At present, we have three vaccines at different levels of clinical testing. The first one is the inactivated virus vaccine, which is the Bharat Biotech vaccine, which has completed its phase I study in 11 sites and has started its phase II study.

Indigenously developed vaccine Covaxin for Covid-19 is underway in Nagpur in Maharashtra. Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech developed a vaccine for Coronavirus has been administered on 55 volunteers and nobody has reported complications so far and the company is planning to start its second phase from 10th of August.

The clinical trial of Covaxin is being conducted at Nagpur’s Gillurkar hospital. The trial which began on 27th of July has completed 11 days now.

Director of the hospital Dr. Chandrashekhar Gillurkar said three milligram intra-muscular dose was given to each volunteer over a period of time and no case of reaction was reported so far. The hospital has achieved a unique feat as it ranks second in conducting clinical trials of this vaccine developed by the Hyderabad based company.