The trial will test 2 doses of the vaccine in approximately 360 healthy subjects between the ages of 18 and 65 (pictured)
Bengaluru:
Biological E. Ltd has started human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate and expects results by February, the drugmaker said on Monday.
The Hyderabad-based company has launched Phase I and Phase II trials of its vaccine candidate – in development with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and US-based Dynavax Technologies Corp – after receiving the signal green from Drugs Controller General of India.
The trial will test two doses of the vaccine in around 360 healthy subjects aged 18 to 65, Biological E.
Separately, Bharat Biotech, developing a vaccine candidate, COVAXIN, with the Indian Council for Medical Research, said it was starting phase III trials on Monday.
India has reported 8.85 million confirmed cases of the virus – the second highest in the world, after the United States – but the number of new daily cases has declined from a peak in mid-September.
Meanwhile, hopes for a vaccine gained new momentum after U.S.-based Moderna Inc said on Monday that its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on interim data from ‘an advanced stage clinical trial.
Last week, drug maker Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE said their vaccine was over 90% effective.
A government-backed vaccine could be launched as early as February – months earlier than expected – as final stage trials begin this month, a senior government scientist previously told Reuters.
