December 1, 2020 4:50:01 am
Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives briefing during a visit to the Zydus Biotech Park to review the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, in Ahmedabad (PTI)
TWO DAYS after visiting vaccine manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting on Monday with three other pharmaceutical companies whose Covid-19 vaccine candidates are currently in clinical trials.
The vaccine development and distribution program is also expected to be discussed at an all-party meeting called by the Center on December 4 to discuss the Covid-19 situation.
The parliamentary affairs ministry, which is coordinating the virtual meeting that Modi will preside over from 10:30 am on Friday, has extended the invitations to the leaders of all parties in both Houses.
In his meeting with the teams at Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, Pune, Biological E Ltd, Hyderabad and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Hyderabad, on Monday, Modi asked them for suggestions on regulatory processes.
“He also suggested that they should make additional efforts to inform the general public in plain language about the vaccine and related issues such as its efficacy, etc. Issues related to logistics, transportation, cold chain, etc. were also discussed. regarding the delivery of vaccines. ”Said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Modi also emphasized the announcement made in the third stimulus package of Rs 900 crore for Mission Covid Suraksha, the vaccine development program. The PMO statement said the potential of various platforms for vaccine development was discussed. Issues related to logistics, transportation, the cold chain, etc. were also discussed. regarding the delivery of vaccines, he said.
“The prime minister advised all departments involved to get involved with manufacturers and seek to resolve issues so that the efforts of these companies bear fruit to meet the needs of the country and the entire world,” said the statement.
Previously, Modi chaired a high-level meeting with top ministers and held several rounds of video conferences in which he emphasized the crucial role of states in vaccine administration.
At the Nov. 24 meeting, he asked states to provide their plans for a final plan on vaccine distribution. He asked them to build decentralized mechanisms down to the bloc level, in the form of working groups, to ensure smooth implementation.
The meeting of all the parties on Friday will be the second called by the government to discuss the Covid-19 situation. The first meeting was held in April, amid a national shutdown.
On Saturday, Modi visited the Zydus vaccine manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad, the Serum Institute in Pune and the Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, the government said ambassadors from 100 countries are scheduled to go to Pune on December 4 to visit the facilities of the Serum Institute of India and Gennova Biopharma.
In collaboration with HDT Biotech Corporation, USA, Gennova has developed an mRNA vaccine candidate (HGCO19), with demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, and neutralizing antibody activity in rodent and non-human primate models.
Biological E Limited (BE), a pharmaceutical and vaccine company, had started a Phase I / II clinical trial of its vaccine candidate in India earlier this month. The company is preparing the vaccine in collaboration with the US-based Dynavax Technologies Corporation and the Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Reddy’s has partnered with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Russia.
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