COVID-19 Vaccine: Hope To Launch Covovax By September This Year, Says Serum Institute’s Adar Poonawalla

New Delhi: Pune-based Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Saturday (March 27) informed that the trials for ‘Covovax’, a vaccine developed by Novavax, have begun in India, and added that he is hoping the vaccine launch will take place by September this year. “Covovax trials finally begin in India; the vaccine is made through a partnership with Novavax and Serum Institute of India. It has been tested against African and UK variants of COVID-19 and has overall efficacy of 89 per cent. Hope to launch by September 2021,” Mr. Poonawalla informed in a tweet.

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It may be noted that the SII is already manufacturing millions of doses of Covishield vaccine in technical collaboration with Oxford University and AstraZeneca. In a press statement, Novavax had earlier announced that NVX-CoV2373, its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate, met the primary endpoint, with a vaccine efficacy of 89.3 per cent, in its Phase three clinical trial conducted in the United Kingdom (UK).

Covovax trials finally begin in India; the vaccine is made through a partnership with @Novavax and @SerumInstIndia. It has been tested against African and UK variants of #COVID19 and has an overall efficacy of 89%. Hope to launch by September 2021! https://t.co/GyV6AQZWdV

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) March 27, 2021

The study assessed efficacy during a period with high transmission and with a new UK variant strain of the virus emerging and circulating widely. It was conducted in partnership with the UK government’s Vaccines Taskforce. The country started its vaccination drive on January 16 with priority given to all healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase.

The second phase started on March 1 where doses are being administered to people above the age of 60 and those between 45 and 59 years with specific comorbidities. From April 1, the government has decided to vaccinate all above 45 years. Currently, Covishied and Covaxin vaccines are being used in India.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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