Are COVID-19 Vaccine Tablets Next In Line? Read On

New Delhi: India is a part of a US company’s global trial of an oral tablet-based COVID-19 vaccine.

American biotechnology company, Vaxart is set to begin phase II clinical trial of its oral tablet-based Covid-19 vaccine in India’s apex Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. It has already received the samples of “VXA-CoV2 Enteric-coated tablets” manufactured by Vaxart, News18 reported.

Global trial of the COVID-19 tablet was launched in the United States last October with giving doses to around 96 participants.

These tablets have been imported by Bengaluru-based Syngene International, the contract research firm which will conduct trials in India on behalf of the American drug maker.

“The samples of Covid vaccine pill have been received for testing and thereafter they will be given to start dosing of Indian participants,” a senior official from the health ministry told News18.com.

The participants will receive two doses of vaccine pill on Days 1 and 29 and they will be followed for six months for efficacy.

Vaxart believes that its vaccine candidate is ideal to protect against mucosal respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the report added.

According to the company’s press release issued in October, the company’s chief scientific officer, Dr Sean Tucker, announced that the vaccine candidate has produced “much higher serum antibody levels” in the non-human primate studies.

How will oral vaccines help?

Oral vaccines in tablet or capsule form will be easier to store and shipped without refrigeration.

They also remove the risks related to needle-stick injury.  Besides, they will save crores of rupees spent on vaccination camps and will lead to much better and faster coverage.