ICMR Fast-Tracks Bharat Biotech’s Covid Vaccine; Aims Launch By August 15

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) announced on Thursday that it has collaborated with Bharat Biotech for fast-tracking the clinical trials of India’s first COVID-19 vaccine (BBV152 COVID Vaccine). ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava in a statement said that it is targeting to launch the vaccine by August 15.

It may be recalled that Bharat Biotech recently got the clearance from the DCGI to start human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin.

“This is the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India and is one of the top priority projects which is being monitored at the topmost level of the Government. The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune. ICMR and BBIL are jointly working for the preclinical as well as clinical development of this vaccine,” the statement read.

However, an official said that the country’s highest medical body has shortlisted 12 institutes, including one from Odisha for starting the clinical trials of country’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine.