In the past one year, the pandemic has shaken the world to its very core. Several biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical companies have been spending months and millions of dollars on the research and development of the much-awaited vaccine for COVID-19.
Amongst several players in the COVID vaccine race, two of them have finally received the approval for public consumption in India. The Drug regulation has given the green light to Covaxin, locally-made by pharma company Bharat Biotech and Covishield by Oxford-AstraZeneca produced by Serum Institute of India.
Though we have two vaccines approved for public consumption, there are more COVID-19 vaccine candidates in different stages of the trial who could potentially be ready for being authorised for use in the near future. With eight COVID-19 vaccine candidates in different stages of the trial, many could be ready for being authorised for use soon. These candidates are still in trial to test the safety and efficacy when injected into human bodies. Front-runners often don’t share their intellectual property however it is safe to say that there are already more than fifty vaccines in clinical trials across the globe. Within our country the following vaccines are in trial stages:
Zydus Cadila – A vaccine developed by Ahmedabad-based Zydus-Cadila, ranked 4th in the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry. In 2014, they launched the world’s first adalimumab biosimilar under the brand name Exemptia. It also launched its first research-based drug molecule Saroglitazar for the treatment of Diabetic Dyslipidemia.
Biological E Ltd – The Hyderabad based pioneer Indian private vaccine-making company has collaborated with US-based Dynavax and Baylor College of Medicine to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Established during the Swadeshi movement, Biological E focuses on Branded Formulations, Speciality Generic Injectables, Synthetic Biology and Vaccines and Biologics.
Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd – The Pune based biotech has collaborated with Seattle-based HDT Biotech Corporation to use pieces of genetic code to cause an immune response to come with HGCO19, India’s first mRNA vaccine. Gennova has 7 products in the market; 5 biosimilar, 1 generic and 1 pioneer product. Gennova’s Tenectase is a pioneering work, where for the first time ever a 3rd generation thrombolytic was approved for arterial ischemic stroke (AIS).
Bharat BioTech International Limited – The biotechnology company founded in 1996 which developed the authorised Covaxin, is coming up with a new Nasal Vaccine. The Hyderabad based company has previously made 16 successful vaccines and exported them to 123 countries.
Dr Reddy’s Lab – Dr Reddy’s Lab in collaboration with Gamaleya National Centre in Russia is developing the Sputnik V vaccine. The company has over 190 medications, 60 active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Serum Institute of India – Adar c. Poonawalla’s Serum Institute of India was granted emergency use authorisation to go ahead with Covishield by Oxford/AstraZeneca is collaborating with American vaccine development company Novavax to develop a second COVID-19 vaccine. Serum Institute of India has already manufactured 5 crore doses of the vaccine and is building a stock with at-risk manufacturing and stockpiling licence from the DCGI. They aim to produce 30 crore doses by July 2021.
