Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to be ready by June 2021

• Bharat Biotech has said that Covaxin, its ICMR-backed vaccine for Covid-19, is set for launch in June 2021. The Hyderabad-based vaccine maker, which has received approval for phase 3 trials, will enroll 26,000 volunteers for the late-stage testing in November. The trials will be conducted at around 30 sites in the country.

• The Executive Director of Bharat Biotech has said that the vaccine will be ready for launch by June 2021 unless the government authorises its emergency use.

• Bharat biotech has enrolled 1000 volunteers for the phase-II trials and none of the participants reported any adverse side effects of the administered vaccine. The company had applied for authorisation from the DGCI to conduct phase-III trials

• India's Zydus Cadila is currently conducting mid-stage trials of its own vaccine hopeful, while Serum Institute is making potential vaccines from AstraZeneca, Novavax and Codagenix Inc, as well as developing its own.