Team Herald
PANJIM: Indian Council for Medical Research has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to bring out a COVID-19 vaccine by Independence Day, August 15, 2020.
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The big news for the State is that Goa-based Redkar hospital at Dhargal Pernem has been selected as one of the five hospitals to conduct clinical trials of the vaccine. The hospital is owned by Dr Vivek Redkar, consultant physician.
“ICMR has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to fast track clinical trials of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine (BBV152 COVID Vaccine),” said ICMR in a letter to the selected hospitals.
This is the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India and is one of the top priority projects 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,” ICMR says.
Further, it says that it is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by 15 August 2020 after completion of all clinical trials. “However final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project,” the ICMR said.
ICMR has advised to treat the project on the highest priority and meet the given timelines without any lapse. Other hospitals selected are from Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.
PTI ADDS: Noting that this was the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India, ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava in his letter to principal investigators of the 12 sites said that it is one of the “top priority projects which is being monitored at the top-most level of the government”.
“You have been chosen as a clinical trial site of the BBV152 COVID vaccine. In view of the public health emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic and urgency to launch the vaccine, you are strictly advised to fast track all approvals related to initiation of the clinical trial and ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7,” he said.
Amid queries from media about the authenticity of the letter, ICMR spokesperson Rajnikant Srivastava said, “The letter is genuine and a request has been made to fast track the vaccine trials.”
The letter warned that any non-compliance will be viewed very seriously.
“Kindly note non-compliance will be viewed very seriously. Therefore, you are advised to treat this project on highest priority and meet the given timelines without any lapse,” the letter stated.
A copy of the letter has been sent to Bharat Biotech.
