Coronavirus crisis puts vaccine trials on the fast track

28 April 2020, Himanshi Jha hot

The deadly health crisis caused by COVID-19 has set off a frenetic race against time to develop a vaccine, with progress being made way faster than any previous effort. While 83 companies across the globe are vying to develop a vaccine, six have already advanced to human trials or clinical evaluation stage. Zydus Cadia, Serum Institute of India, Biological E, Bharat Biotech, Indian Immunological Ltd. and Mynvax are among local companies trying to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.

“Due to an emergency situation arising out of the pandemic, if any drug or vaccine gets approved by any drug regulatory agency of any country for COVID-19 after ensuring its safety and efficacy, it will be approved through accelerated mechanism by waving off clinical trials on Indian population on a case-by-case basis”, said a senior official in DGCI on condition of anonymity.

“The world has seen many diseases emerge before but COVID-19 has been different due to which there’s a fast response for vaccine”, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, head of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) task force on COVID-19 vaccines. Usually it takes 10-15 years to develop a new vaccine but unprecedented circumstances requires unprecedented efforts. Although a vaccine for COVID-19 may be available within a year, scientists cautioned that safety and efficacy issues due to continuous mutation of the virus should not be ignored.

-Himanshi Jha