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The Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SIIPL) has made an announcement that a vaccine candidate regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is expected in progressing to the phase of the human trials within six months.

The vaccine candidate which has been developed by the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd in partnership with American Biotechnology firm Codagenix is said to be progressed to the pre- clinical tests phase which is the animal trial phase.

The sudden out break of the deadly coronavirus which has been later named as COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, was first recorded in the Wuhan city of China which has shown a rapid spread across over 25 countries where in it claimed the lives of several people and had affected many more. Therefore, it is a necessity to identify a preventive measure so that the people stay safe from being infected by the deadly COVID- 19.

However, there have been several efforts being made in the stride in order to find a cure or to control the outbreak but this is said to be the first vaccine- virus strain that had made a progress to the pre- clinical trial phase.

Adar Poonawalla who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Serum Institute of India has expressed his happiness regarding the development of the vaccine. The Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India has said that, “I am glad to share our combined efforts with the team of Codagenix have borne fruit, and we hope to save millions of lives with this vaccine.”

He had also added saying that the breakthrough also portrays the preparedness of the country in order to encounter the global epidemics like the novel coronavirus.

He had added saying that the vaccine candidate has been developed using a synthetic virus which is made in the laboratory and is referred to as an important breakthrough as it is said to significantly reduce the time that is consumed in order to build a shield against the virus.

Adar Poonawala has said that the team is hoping to be ready with the vaccine against the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by the early 2022 and that the vaccine- virus strain has been said as being identical to the original virus and that it can generate a robust immune response.

The vaccine- virus strain is said to be the fastest ‘Made in India’ such vaccine to progress to the phase of the human- trials within just six months.

The project is said to have costed up to Rs 300 crore and the Serum Institute of India is aiming to secure the external funding for the project that is being done, through various global partners.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Serum Institute of India has said that the data on mice and primates for submitting to the regulatory authorities will be done by the end of the month of August and would then enter into the phase of human trials.

By Shrithika Kushangi