PUNE / AHMEDABAD / HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited units of three vaccine Indian manufacturers to review the progress of the vaccine development and manufacturing process – Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune.
Modi’s first stop was Ahmedabad, where he reviewed the vaccine development and manufacturing process for Zydus Group’s indigenous plasmid DNA vaccine: ZyCov-D.
“What surprised and impressed me was PM @ narendramodi’s emphasis on science and vision for global good,” Zydus Group President Pankaj Patel tweeted after PM’s visit.
The company has completed phase II human clinical trials of ZyCov-D and the results are currently being analyzed. “Soon the data will be presented (to the regulator) and the third phase will begin. The phase III trial is expected to begin in December and we expect to complete the third phase trials in March, ”Patel told TOI.
“The vaccine is likely to hit the market after March next year, subject to regulatory approvals. Now production capacity is being increased and the expansion will end in January. With this, Zydus cadilaThe capacity of the vaccine will increase from 100 to 150 million doses per year, ”added Patel.
Later, Modi visited the Bharat Biotech facilities in Genome valley in Hyderabad as part of his three-city tour.
The prime minister interacted with the company’s senior officials, including its president and managing director, Dr. Krishna Ella, as well as with scientists involved in the development of Covaxin, India’s first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine being developed by the Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer.
Phase III trials of Covaxin, involving more than 26,000 volunteers at 25 sites across the country, began earlier this month. About 1,000 volunteers participated in the first and second phases of the human trials in Covaxin. Bharat Biotech had previously indicated that based on the results of phase I and II trials, the efficacy of Covaxin is expected to exceed 60%.
His last stop was the new main vaccine plant of the Serum Institute of India in Manjari and he interacted with his team on the manufacturing, logistics and distribution of his Covid-19 vaccine: Covishield.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said: “I had a good interaction with the team at the Serum Institute of India. They shared details about their progress so far on how they plan to increase vaccine manufacturing further. Also, take a look at their manufacturing facilities. ”
Serum Institute of India (SII) has partnered with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca for the manufacture and distribution of the vaccine.
Its owner and chief executive officer (CEO) Adar Poonawalla said there was a discussion with the Prime Minister about the vaccine launch implementation plan. The new facility that will increase capacity to 2 billion doses from 1.5 billion a year was also shown to the PM, he said. Currently, the company has stockpiled around 40 million doses and will increase to 100 million doses per month after January.
Around the world, everyone is dependent on and looking forward to vaccines coming out of India, which will be in large volumes and at an affordable price, as the country has about 50-60% global capacity, he said, adding that India and the Covax countries will be our priority. .
A PMO statement later said that Modi emphasized the fact that “India views vaccines not only as vital to good health but also as a global good and that it is India’s duty to help other countries, including neighboring nations. India, in the collective fight against Covid-19 “.
He also asked scientists for their suggestions on how the country could further improve its regulatory processes, according to the PMO statement.
In video: See: PM Modi visits vaccine companies in 3 cities to review progress
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