COVID: Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute to start intranasal vaccine trials

Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India may soon pursue late stage clinical trials of intranasal versions of their COVID-19 vaccine candidates Covaxin and Covishield, once they get the nod of the drug regulator, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday (October 18).

Currently, all the three vaccines undergoing Phase 3 trials, are meant to be administered through injection.

The late-stage clinical trials of the said vaccines may involve more than 40,000 volunteers.

India’s Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Saturday said that they have received renewed approval to conduct late-stage clinical trials in India of Sputnik V, the Russian COVID-19 vaccine.

A Centre-formed expert panel has meanwhile said that the COVID-19 peak can be brought under control by early next year if all necessary measures are complied with.