News Desk: ICMR has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to fast-track clinical trials of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine (BBV152 COVID Vaccine). This is the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India and is one of the top priority projects which are being monitored at the topmost level of the Government.
The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by KCMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. ICMR and BBIL are jointly working for the preclinical as well as clinical development of this vaccine.
It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by 15th August 2020 after completion of all clinical trials. BBIL s working expeditiously to meet the target; however final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project.
ICMR has been chosen as a clinical trial site of the BBV152 COVID Vaccine. In view of the public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and urgency to launch the vaccine, ICMR has advised Bharat Biotech International Limited to Fast Track all approvals related to the initiation of the clinical trial and ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than 7” July 2020.
Director-General of ICMR, Balram Bhargava also advised BBIL to treat this project as the highest priority and meet the given timeline without any lapse.
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