Serum Institute to start clinical trials of Novavax COVID vaccine for children in July: Report
The US-based biotechnology company Novavax has tied up with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture its Covid-19 vaccine, namely Covovax.
FollowThe Serum Institute of India (SII) plans to start clinical trials of the Novavax vaccine against Covid-19 for children in July, news agency ANI reported on Thursday citing people familiar with the matter.
The US-based biotechnology company Novavax has tied up with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture its Covid-19 vaccine, namely Covovax. According to the company's claim, its nano-particle protein-based vaccine has demonstrated an overall 90.4% efficacy in phase 3 clinical trials.
Last year in September, Novavax had announced a manufacturing agreement with SII for its Covid-19 vaccine NVX-CoV2373.
"Covovax trials finally begin in India; the vaccine is made through a partnership with @Novavax and @SerumInstIndia. It has been tested against African and UK variants of #COVID19 and has an overall efficacy of 89%. Hope to launch by September 2021!," SII CEO Adar Poonawalla had announced on Twitter.
Novavax said in a statement that the vaccine candidate, 'NVX-CoV2373', demonstrated 100 per cent protection against moderate and severe disease, 90.4% efficacy overall and met the primary endpoint in its PREVENT-19 pivotal Phase 3 trial.
The study enrolled 29,960 participants across 119 sites in the US and Mexico to evaluate efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine, it added.
On Tuesday, the government said the efficacy data of Novavax vaccine against Covid-19 is promising and encouraging and its clinical trials are in an advanced stage of completion in India. NITI Aayog member (health) VK Paul said the data available in the public domain also indicates the vaccine is safe and highly effective.
Reports say that the Government of India expects the availability of 20 crore doses of Covovax between August and December. India is yet to grant authorisation for emergency use. It is likely that the country will allow entry of this vaccine once the USFDA approves it.
The SII CEO had already said that the clinical trials of 'Covovax' have begun in India and the vaccine maker hopes to launch it by September this year.
SII is already supplying AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, in India and to other countries across the world.
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