“The scientists expressed their joy that the prime minister was meeting with them face to face in order to boost their morale and help accelerate their efforts at this critical juncture in the vaccine development journey – such a rapid pace thus far. He spoke about how India is following sound principles of science throughout the vaccine development journey, while asking for suggestions to improve the vaccine distribution process, “the Prime Minister’s Office said in an official statement.
The prime minister emphasized that India views vaccines as not only vital to good health but also a global good, and it is India’s duty to assist other countries, including nations in our neighborhood, in the collective fight against the virus, he added. PMO.
He asked scientists to express their free and frank opinion on how the country could further improve its regulatory process. The scientists also presented an overview of how they are also developing various new and repurposed drugs to better combat Covid-19.
Modi began his whirlwind journey on Saturday morning by visiting the Zydus Biotechnology Park in Ahmedabad to learn more about the indigenous DNA-based vaccine being developed by Zydus Cadila.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said: “I visited the Zydus Biotechnology Park in Ahmedabad to learn more about the indigenous DNA-based vaccine being developed by Zydus Cadila. I congratulate the team behind this effort for their work. The Government of India stands by actively working with to support them on this journey. “
Modi spent more than an hour at the plant, before leaving for the airport, from where he departed for Hyderabad at 11:40 am. Modi landed at the Hakimpet Air Force Station near Hyderabad around 1pm and headed to the vaccine manufacturing plant of major pharmaceutical Bharat Biotech in Genome Valley, located about 20km from the air station, for highway.
Modi tweeted: “At the Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad, their indigenous COVID-19 vaccine was reported. He congratulated the scientists on their progress in the trials so far. His team is working closely with ICMR to facilitate rapid progress. “.
At the facility, he reviewed the progress of Covaxin, a candidate vaccine the company is developing. He also interacted with the president and managing director of Bharat Biotech, Krishna Ella, scientists and senior management.
After leaving the facility, Modi got out of his vehicle at the front door and greeted the media and the crowd nearby.
Covaxin, which is being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology, is in phase 3 trials.
At 3:20 p.m., Modi took off for Pune, where it landed at 4:30 p.m. From the airport, Modi took a helicopter to the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Manjari, located 17 km from the airport.
From Hyderabad, Modi went to the Serum Institute of India in Pune.
“He had a good interaction with the Serum Institute of India team. They shared details about their progress so far on how they plan to further increase vaccine manufacturing. They also took a look at their manufacturing facilities,” Modi said on Twitter.
Modi’s visit to the Zydus Cadila manufacturing facility near Ahmedabad, where a coronavirus vaccine is being developed, was encouraging, the chief pharmacist said.
Using an EPP kit, he reviewed the vaccine development process at the company’s research center, located more than 20 km from Ahmedabad.
Company officials briefed Modi extensively on vaccine work at the plant. He was informed about the vaccine production procedure. He interacted with vaccine scientists and developers, an official said.
“Today, the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modiji visited our Zydus Biotech park. This visit has encouraged us to do more and faster,” said company president Pankaj Patel in a video statement.
“His knowledge, wisdom about the problem and his guidance have been valuable to our scientific staff and to all of us,” added Patel.
“India’s trip to Atmanirbhar Bharat – scientists, 1,800 of them and 25,000 Zydans (employees) – continuously strive and work to provide safe and effective vaccines, better treatments and COVID diagnoses,” he said.
Zydus Cadila had previously announced that the phase I clinical trial of its vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D had ended and phase II clinical trials had begun as of August.
Patel recently said that the company aims to complete testing of the vaccine by March 2021 and that it could produce up to 100 million doses a year.
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