New Delhi: The first part of the phase-1 trials of India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, has produced “encouraging” results, said the principal investigator of the team at Post-Graduate Institute (PGI) of Medical Sciences, Rohtak.
The 1st part human trial, which started on July 17, ended on Saturday.
Made by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Covaxin is believed to be leading in the race among the vaccines from India.
“First part of phase-1 of vaccine trial (Covaxin) has been completed. 50 people across India were administered the vaccine and the results were encouraging. Six people were administered vaccine on Saturday under the second part of phase-1,” principal investigator of the vaccine trial team Dr Savita Verma told news agency ANI.
Another six people have been given the vaccine as part of the phase-1.
No side-effects have been seen so far. Over 3,500 volunteers have registered for the trial at AIIMS-New Delhi.
The second-phase trial will have 750 volunteers from 12 test sites in the country, including the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar. The volunteers will be between 12 and 65 years old.
Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune has sought permission to conduct phase 2 and 3 human trials of Oxford vaccine, which it is manufacturing after partnering with AstraZeneca.
