Intranasal adenovirus COVID-19 vaccine – Bharat Biotech to produce 1 billion doses
100 Crores doses of a single-dose intranasal COVID-19 vaccine will be produced by Bharat Biotech in partnership with the Washington University School of Medicine, the U.S. The contract is anticipated to help get over potential challenges with distributing the vaccine, such as the possible scarcity of personnel to administer the dosages to the required populace or the high cost of vaccination.
For the novel chimp-adenovirus candidate, Bharat Biotech has signed a contract with the university. The firm has legal licenses to market and sell the vaccine “in all markets” other than the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
The firm stated that when the human trials stage I will be performed at the Treatment Evaluation Unit of Saint Louis University. And after receiving the needed regulatory approvals, Bharat Biotech is expected to carry out further clinical trial stages in India.
Additionally, the firm will manufacture the vaccine in large quantities at its center in Genome Valley, Hyderabad.
What are Adenovirus vaccines?
A genetically modified virus is used in the adenovirus vaccines to carry a code for the cells in the body to produce the coronavirus’ spike protein, which is used
to enter the host cells by the virus, and this is anticipated to help the body identify this spike protein as a foreign substance and produce an immune reaction against it so that the virus can be eliminated when it attempts to infect the human body.There 2 adenovirus vaccine candidates evaluated in India.
- Covishield (AZD1222 or Oxford vaccine), established by the Oxford University in cooperation with AstraZeneca.
- Sputnik V vaccine is established by the Gamaleya Research Institute, Russia.
Both both of these vaccine candidates are injectable vaccines, unlike the Washington University vaccine candidate.
Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman, and Managing Director, Bharat Biotech said that they anticipate scaling this vaccine to one billion doses, meaning that one billion people will be getting vaccinated in the single-dose regimen.
He further stated that this vaccine will be easy to use. However, it will decrease the use of medical consumables such as syringes, needles, and so on, dramatically affecting the overall expense of the vaccination.
Dr. David T Curiel, Supervisor of Biologic Therapies Facility and Professor of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medication, St Louis stated that the capability to complete efficient immunization with a single nasal dose is a significant benefit, providing simpler administration and broader reach.
Dr. David stated that this efficient intranasal COVID-19 vaccine will protect the body from coronavirus infection as well as stops the spread of the infection by offering another type of immunity that occurs in the cells that line the throat and nose, presently, most of the other vaccines are under development can’t achieve this.
Intranasal adenovirus COVID-19 vaccine – Bharat Biotech to produce 1 billion doses
Author: Sruthi S
