Largest vaccine trial so far in India for Covid-19. DCGI approves world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA-based vaccine for COVID-19 to be administered in humans including children above 12 years of age and adults.
Largest vaccine trial so far in India for Covid-19. DCGI approves world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA-based vaccine for COVID-19 to be administered in humans including children above 12 years of age and adults.
Cadila Healthcare (Zydus Cadila) on August 20 received Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for ZyCoV-D, the world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA-based vaccine for COVID-19 to be administered in humans including children above 12 years of age and adults.
The vaccine has to be administered in three doses – the first dose, and the remaining doses after 28 and 56 days. So far, 28,000 volunteers has been tested and the vaccine shows 66.6% efficacy for RT-PCR positive cases.
PM Modi in his tweet, said "India is fighting COVID-19 with full vigour. The approval for world’s first DNA based ‘ZyCov-D’ vaccine of Zydus Cadila is a testimony to the innovative zeal of India’s scientists. A momentous feat indeed."
This three-dose vaccine which when injected produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and elicits an immune response, which plays a vital role in protection from disease as well as viral clearance. The plug-and-play technology on which the plasmid DNA platform is based can be easily adapted to deal with mutations in the virus, such as those already occurring," said a release from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The vaccine was developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology, under the ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’ and implemented by BIRAC. ZyCoV-D has been supported under COVID-19 Research Consortia through National Biopharma Mission for Preclinical studies, Phase I and Phase II Clinical Trials and under the Mission COVID Suraksha for Phase III Clinical Trial.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of the Zydus Group, Pankaj R. Patel said, "We put out a safe, well-tolerated and efficacious vaccine to fight COVID-19 with ZyCoV-D. To create the world’s first DNA vaccine at such a crucial juncture and despite all the challenges, is a tribute to the Indian research scientists and their spirit of innovation."