Covovax trials begin, hope to launch vaccine by Sept 2021: Adar Poonawalla

Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of Pune-based Serum Institute of India, tweeted on Saturday that trials of coronavirus vaccine, Covavax, have begun in India. The coronavirus vaccine has been developed by the US-based biotech firm Novavax. SII is in partnership with the company to manufacture several doses of the vaccine. The Pune-based company had applied to start trials in India in January, this year.

Also read: Novavax hopeful of filing for British COVID-19 vaccine approval in Q2

“Covovax trials finally begin in India; the vaccine is made through a partnership with @Novavax and @SerumInstIndia,” Poonawalla tweeted.

He said the jab was tested against the UK and South Africa strains of novel coronavirus and showed an overall efficacy of 89%.

“Hope to launch by September 2021!” he tweeted.

Earlier this month, Novavax had announced Covavax had a final efficacy of 96.4% against mild, moderate and severe cases of COVID-19, in trials conducted in the UK, reported The Hindu.

In another study, involving trial volunteers in the UK, the jab showed 89% efficacy. It also conducted trials in South Africa and showed an efficacy of 48.6%, the company said in January. Novavax cited the pre-dominance of the South African strain for its efficacy results in the country.

Also read: South Africa to return 1 million coronavirus vaccine doses to Serum Institute

This is SII’s second coronavirus vaccine. It’s also manufacturing AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, dubbed as ‘Covishield’ in India. The jab was approved by India in January and is being used in the nationwide vaccination drive.