Coronavirus vaccine update: Serum Institute of India and Novavax join hands to produce two billion doses of COVID vaccine

As the novel coronavirus continues to ravage the globe, the race to develop a safe and effective vaccine to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus has intensified. Currently, there are 38 potential vaccines in human trials and more than 93 vaccine candidates have reached the preclinical trials. As we write this, the number of coronavirus cases across the world is inching closer to 30 million mark and the highly infectious virus has already resulted in 939,674 fatalities.

In the latest development in the production of COVID vaccine in India, US pharmaceutical giant Novavax has revised its deal of manufacturing its potential COVID-19 vaccine candidate with Pune-based Serum Institute of India. Earlier, in the month of August, Novavax Inc had joined hands with SII to produce one billion doses if its vaccine candidate for middle and low-income countries including India. After the revision in the agreement, the US drugmaker will focus on doubling the manufacturing capacity of its vaccine candidate to two billion doses.

Additionally, Serum Institute of India will also focus on producing the antigen component of the potential vaccine of Novavax, which is being called “ NVX-CoV2373.” The addition in the agreement is touted to double Novavax’s manufacturing capacity to produce more than 2 billion doses of its vaccine by 2021.

The vaccine candidate of US-based drugmaker has been developed by genetic engineering. It used the genetic sequence of the SARS-COV-2 virus which showed a great promise on baboons and mice. According to the company’s website, NVX-CoV2373 has demonstrated in preclinical studies that it binds efficiently with human receptors targeted by the virus, a critical aspect for effective vaccine protection. Early data from preliminary studies have revealed that the NVX-CoV2373 produced high levels of antibodies against COVID-19.

The Maryland-based drugmaker has already launched Phase 2 human trials of its vaccine candidate in South Africa in the month of August and the crucial last stage (Phase III) human trials is all set to begin in October. If the vaccine candidate is approved, Novavax will supply 60 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine candidate to the UK by the first quarter of 2021 and 100 million doses to the United States by January 2021.