Coronavirus vaccine update: From ICMR's deadline for COVAXIN trials to Chinese COVID-19 vaccine trials in Brazil, here are all the updates we know

Coronavirus cases are surging at an alarming rate across the globe. As authorities try using experimental strategies to treat the deadly virus, over 110 groups are in contention to invent a vaccine to combat the pandemic at warp speed and more than 11 have advanced to large scale trials. India too is seeing developments happening at warp speed, with two prototypes, one produced by Bharat Biotech and the other by Zydus Cadila issued clearance to start clinical trials. Here are all the updates regarding the same.

India's first homegrown vaccine developed by leading vaccine maker Bharat Biotech won regulatory approvals from the authorities to kickstart phase I and II of the trials in research centres across the country, as COVID-19 cases spike every day. Indian Council of Medical Research also announced plans to further speed up the trials and produce results of the same by August 15. A total of 12 institutes have been asked by the ICMR to fast track clinical trials of the vaccine as it is being considered the topmost priority projects which are being monitored by the government.

While the deadline is ambitious and much shorter than those promised by other leading competitors in the vaccine race, the August 15 date has received a lot of criticism from doctors and researchers, who claim there is still no proper evidence that Bharat Biotech based vaccine would work and immunization against the pandemic will take a long time. Many called it "rushed" and said that the move comes backed with potential risks.

However, after receiving much backlash, India's clinical regulatory board, ICMR issued a clarification, saying that their timelines were very much in toe with what global companies are following. A statement issued by ICMR mentioned:

"Everything will be dependent on the clinical trial results...speedy trials were envisioned to cut unnecessary red tape, without bypassing any necessary process, and speed up recruitment of participants."

The medical board also said that the decision to speed up development was taken into consideration to meet with public health concerns.

"ICMR's process is exactly in accordance with the globally accepted norms to fast-track the vaccine development for diseases of pandemic potential wherein human and animal trials can continue in parallel."

Indian pharmaceutical company, Zydus Cadila received the green signal from The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) to start phase I and II of their clinical trials on human participants. A report mentioned that Ahmedabad based Zydus Cadila saw satisfactory results in the pre-clinical trials and various animal studies, post which, the regulatory board issued them the go-ahead to start the trials. One of their prime vaccine candidates deals with the development of a DNA vaccine against the coronavirus membrane protein which would subsequently work by encouraging a strong immune response and root away viral cells.

The vaccine produced by Chinese pharma giant, Cansino Biologics Inc, Sinovac has been granted the permission to start trials of the vaccine jab in Brazilian health regulators, Anvisa in the country, which is one of the worst-affected countries to suffer from the COVID-19 outbreak. According to reports, the agreement with Sinovac includes not only trials but also the transference of technology to produce the potential vaccine locally. Trials for the same will be conducted in 12 research centres across the country.

6 other vaccines are currently being researched and developed in China apart from Sinovac.

Oxford University backed vaccine model, produced in collaboration with British-Swedish firm, AstraZeneca is seeing developments happen at a good rate. The vaccine, which is currently in its phase-III of its trials, is said to be extremely promising. According to recent reports, a lead researcher involved in the development of the vaccine, Sarah Gilbert said that Oxford vaccine should be able to provide ‘a good duration of immunity’ and she is optimistic about it. The makers have also signed a deal with Brazil government to supply ready doses for the same. The vaccine prototype is also one model which has been pegged by the WHO to be the safest so far.

In more promising news, a vaccine prototype under development, BNT162b1 by pharma giant Pfizer and German company BioNtech has shown safe and effective results in preliminary studies of its phase I trials, which is based on innovative mRNA technology. Data regarding early observations have been published in the medical journal, medRxiv and is yet to be peer-reviewed. Pfizer was considered to be one of the earliest frontrunners in the global vaccine hunt, and extensive studies are being done since early April. A messenger RNA prototype has also been modelled by Moderna Inc, which will soon proceed to phase-III trial in the next week or so.

Pharma company Johnson and Johnson (J & J) announced a breakthrough this week after they announced the start of potential phase I trials of their vaccine prototype. The drugmaker plans to accelerate trials of their product in the next month or so, and the company is also working on expanding production and manufacturing to meet with the current timelines. Johnson and Johnson is also involved in Operation WarpSpeed, USA to hunt for a potential vaccine. Reports are also rife that the pharma giant has inked a potential deal with authorities in Europe to supply large scale vaccine doses, if the testing shows safe results.