BENGALURU (INDIA) – Indian regulators have given drugmaker Zydus the nod to begin human studies for its coronavirus vaccine candidate on Friday.
Zydus, which is part of Cadila Healthcare Ltd, said in a statement that the vaccine demonstrated a “strong immune response” in animal trials and the antibodies produced neutralised the wild type virus.
Approval for Zydus follows the nod for Bharat Biotech to go ahead with human trials for its potential COVID-19 vaccine.
Zydus is slated to start human trials this month. The potential vaccine will be tested in as many as 1,000 subjects spanning cities across the country. The firm said it would ramp up production for the vaccine to meet the demand in India and abroad.
Repeat dose toxicology studies have revealed that there were no safety concerns, said Zydus. Up to three times the dose intended for humans was found to be safe when tested in rabbits.
In India, the number of coronavirus cases crossed 600,000 on Thursday and there were 17,834 deaths. This comes amid the battle to contain the spread of the virus as the nation relaxes lockdown rules.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field