Bharat Biotech said that Phase-1 clinical trial of a new intranasal vaccine for its COVID-19 will begin in February-March.
Covid-19 Vaccine Update: After approving its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Bharat Biotech said that Phase-1 clinical trial of a new intranasal vaccine for its COVID-19 will begin in February-March. In addition to Covaxin, Bharat Biotech is also working on another vaccine, for which it has tied up with Washington University School of Medicine. It is a single dose intranasal vaccine for Covid-19.
Pre-clinical testing completed
The vaccine maker said that pre-clinical testing of BBV154 (intranasal COVID-19 vaccine) has been completed. This study has been done in America and India. Phase-1 human trials will begin in February-March 2021. Bharat Biotech further said that phase-1 human clinical trials will be done in India.
Sources in the company further said that Phase-1 trials will be conducted at the Vaccine and Treatment Valuation Unit of St. Louis University. With this, India Biotech has the rights to distribute the vaccine in all markets except the US, Japan and Europe. Bharat Biotech chairman Krishna Ella said earlier that the company is focusing on the intranasal vaccine as the current intranasal vaccine requires two injections and requires 2.6 billion syringes and needles in a country like India that could increase pollution.
Vaccination costs will come down
He said that an intranasal vaccine would not only be easier to deliver, but it would also reduce the use of medical items like a needle, syringes, etc., which would have a major impact on the total cost of the vaccination campaign. One drop of vaccine in each nostril is enough. According to him, keeping in mind many things, Bharat Biotech has tied up with Washington University School of Medicine for single-dose COVID-19 intranasal vaccine.
