How close are we to have a COVID-19 vaccine ready?
The world is many steps closer to get access to a COVID-19 vaccine now. While Pfizer-BionTech made headway last week by winning approvals for its novel COVID-19 vaccine, at least 2 other contenders are said to be in talks to seek emergency authorization and start roll-out.
Countries are securing access to COVID-19 vaccines under development
According to a recent report, India is said to have secured the maximum doses of vaccines (at least 60%), closely followed by the USA and EU.
We brief you about the latest developments, and the most promising and top vaccine contenders in the race right now.
Pfizer in talks to bring vaccine to India, seeks emergency authorisation
As UK and Bahrain gear up to process possibly the 'biggest' immunization program in history, talks are on to bring Pfizer's COVID vaccine model, BNT-162 to countries like India.
Right now, India is one of the most prospective countries for any vaccine maker, considering the country's status as one of the top vaccine producers, globally. While companies like Oxford-Astrazeneca and Russia's Sputnik V have already signed strategic deals to test, produce and market their doses in the country, a recent report highlighted that Pfizer is in talks with the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) to seek emergency authorisation and start marketing the vaccine for use.
If the DGCI is satisfied with the vaccine trial results, conducted outside India, the vaccine will be marked ready for use. This will also make Pfizer the first company to seek a license like this.
Pfizer, which was approved for use last week has one of the highest efficacy odds of all vaccines right now, a whopping 92.5% and observation studies have proved its safety and immunogenicity responses as well, which makes it an ideal candidate. However, if at all the vaccine does eventually reach Indian shores, there will be challenges which can marr the working of the vaccine. Not only does the vaccine require extremely cold temperatures to be stored in, but it is also a little difficult to distribute and administer, making it a super costly dose as well, right now.
SII to seek emergency authorization for Oxford vaccine, ‘Covishield’
Serum Institute of India, Pune became the second company after Pfizer to seek emergency use authorization for its vaccine under testing, the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine (named COVISHIELD) in the country. The vaccine is currently undergoing phase III testing in India and other parts of the world.
The news, which came to light yesterday (December 06), goes along the promise SII CEO Adar Poonawalla made, to have a vaccine ready before 2020.
Citing its strong efficacy rates, Poonawalla made the statement on social media, adding that if approvals are met in time, this will be the first made-in-India COVID vaccine, and one of the first vaccines to win such fast approvals in the country. The move shall help meet medical needs in the nation, which has seen close to 96 lakh infections in the past months.
The news follows up after a potential breach discovered during the phase II/III trials in Chennai prompted a volunteer to file for compensation, citing neurological damages and terming the vaccine unsafe for use. However, the case was soon dismissed after DGCI conducted observational studies and found no conclusive evidence.
Covishield, which is the vaccine developed by Oxford-Astrazeneca scientists makes use of an inactive version of the common cold virus and has proven exemplary results in early studies. It is also one of the cheapest vaccines under development right now, which gives it an edge over its competitors.
SII has also ramped up production, reserving over 50 million doses for Indian masses, and promising to have more of it in the coming months.
Moderna vaccine gives immunity for 3 months; up for FDA review
Moderna's mRNA-1273 COVID-19 model, which is yet another strong competitor in the race is also in the last leg of its trials. According to the latest studies, the vaccine, which carries over a 90% efficacy rate guarantees immunity for over 3 months with a single shot.
For the same, researchers at the National Institute of Allergies and Infections, (NIAID), which co-developed the drug, studied the immune response of 34 adult participants, young and old, from the first stage of a clinical trial.
The findings of the study were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It was observed that the antibody count in vaccinated patients started to wane after three months time, but remained elevated enough to garner protection against the rampant virus.
The vaccine is expected to head for a review by FDA officials on December 17, following which it could receive necessary nods for use and distribution.
While Japan has already secured 50 million doses of the experimental vaccine, there are no reports of the vaccine being brought to India, or other countries right now.
Sputnik V enters phase II/III trials in India
Meanwhile, Russia’s first approved COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V has started critical phase II/III testing in selected centres across the country. Seventeen healthy volunteers were administered Sputnik V vaccine in the last three days as part of human trials.
The trials are being overseen by pharma major, Dr Reddy’s, in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Reports suggest that India has purchased over 100 million doses of the vaccine from Russia.
The clinical testing, which is expected to wrap up by the end of December-January will pave the way for the vaccine maker to market the doses for mass use, which could happen as early as the first quarter of 2021.
Volunteer in Covaxin trials tests COVID+; raise doubts
Covaxin, which is the first locally made and produced in India COVID-19 vaccine in crucial stages of testing, having begun phase III testing just weeks before. While the vaccine is being praised for its speedy development, one of the volunteers, who was part of the trials, Haryana Health Minister, Anil Vij tested positive for the virus, two weeks after receiving the first shot, citing claims over the potential cause of concern and made many believe that Covaxin still ranks behind in the race.
However, medical investigators and chief scientists from Bharat Biotech dismissed reports and asserted on the vaccine's safe results, adding that the vaccine provides defence and spikes up antibody levels in the body only after two doses, spaced two weeks apart are injected in the body. Bharat Biotech also said that it expects 130 more COVID infections amongst trial participants, terming it not to be a cause of worry.
Covaxin will also be subjected to an interim analysis, much like other vaccines a few weeks after, when more infection cases are observed.