Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine Update: The University of Oxford-AstraZeneca backed novel coronavirus vaccine has been one of the leading vaccine candidates in the global race. The vaccine, currently in phase III of its trials, which was considered to be the first one to get launched for the public in 2020 will be most likely available for public deployment by 2021, according to the latest reports.
Currently, phase III clinical trials are being conducted in research facilities across the UK, US, Brazil, and South Africa. Trials are also expected to start from next week in India in partnership with the Serum Institute of India.
The Oxford University backed vaccine, called AZD-12222 was one of the first to head into the human trial stage as well as start late-stage trials. It’s also one vaccine, which has found to be “safest” yet by the WHO in the pre-development phase.
Made using a non-replicating viral strain, the most recent development was confirmed by researchers from the Oxford vaccine research institute, quelling any rumors about an early advent related to launching in 2020.
With researchers hopeful of seeing the end of clinical trials by November of early December, Oxford Researchers have also signed an agreement with Mexico and Argentine authorities to scale up production in the first quarter of 2021. Making the vaccine available for all.
The University of Oxford has also signed pacts with global vaccine makers and vaccine federations. WHO also asked top vaccine makers in the race to be a part of its global vaccine alliance, COVAX to ensure equal distribution of the doses for the public.
India’s apex drug regulatory body also granted approval to Serum Institute of India (SII) to conduct phase II and III human trials for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in India. “As per the study design, each subject will be administered two doses four weeks apart (first dose on day one and second dose on day 29) following which the safety and immunogenicity will be assessed at predefined intervals,” the official told PTI.
SII said the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will provide at-risk funding of $150 million to manufacture 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for India and low-and-middle-income countries. Under this agreement, the Pune-based firm can charge a maximum of $3 per dose for the two COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine maker will get the funding from the Gates Foundation through international vaccine alliance GAVI.
“Keeping in mind the pandemic situation, we have two dedicated facilities to produce millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while withholding vast production of other products,” Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer, SII.
Russia on Tuesday declared that it had become the first country to approve a vaccine against novel coronavirus. Dubbed as Sputnik V, the vaccine was developed by Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian defense ministry. Russia registered the vaccine after less than two months of human testing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that one of his daughters had been inoculated with the vaccine. “I know it has proven efficient and forms a stable immunity, and I would like to repeat that it has passed all the necessary tests,” Putin said.
