The Pune-based vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII) is hoping that the final results of the ongoing clinical trials of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate Covishield will be out by January 2021.
At a virtual conference on “COVID-19 vaccine — a global perspective”, organized by the JSS Research Foundation, SII’s Executive Director, Suresh Jadhav said the trials of Covishield were in the final stages in India. While the Phase 3 trials had been completed in some parts of the world, in India, they were in the final stages with the injections scheduled for completion by November-end.
The SII’s Executive Director, Suresh Jadhav, was quoted by The Hindu as saying, “institute will produce 50 million to 60 million doses of the vaccine candidate developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University every month from January.
“But, till January, we will also have about 80 to 100 million doses in stock for supply if we get permission for emergency use by the government,” Dr. Jadhav added.
While the SII will need to apply for emergency use, the firm is expected to do so in December. The Centre is finalizing a contract with vaccine manufacturers for procurement of doses.
“We expect emergency authorization for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to be sought in the UK. If so, it will give an opportunity for the Indian regulator also,” Niti Aayog member Vinod Paul said, as quoted by Business Today.
The government, which will make bulk purchases, has also negotiated a better price which will be around USD 5-6 per dose with an MRP of around Rs 1,000 for the two necessary doses, an official source said.
“The government of India will be getting it at a far cheaper price at around USD 3-4 because it will be buying in a large volume and get access to the price that is similar to what COVAX has got. We are still pricing is far cheaper and more affordable than other vaccines we have in the market today,” Serum Institute of India’s CEO Adar Poonawalla said.
Earlier this week, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced a strong immune response in older adults, raising hopes that it can protect the age groups most at risk from the virus.
“If everything goes as per the plan, then India is likely to get the first lot of anti-Covid shots in late January-early February. Frontline workers like doctors, nurses, and municipal staff will get the vaccine shot first. It is going to take another three to four months before it’s available to the general public because that’s the way the emergency use licensure will probably work, Poonawalla further added.
