COVAXIN, India’s first indigenous vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech according to a study by ICMR states – the vaccine against Covid-19, is effective against the Delta Plus variant of coronavirus. COVAXIN has been developed by Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with ICMR.
The world’s largest vaccination drive is happening in India and so far more than 430 million doses has been distributed. COVAXIN was given emergency use authorisation on January 3 this year. The Indian vaccine is the only vaccine effective against delta variant so far among vaccines administered world wide.
Delta Plus is a mutated form of the Delta variant, first discovered in India. It is characterised by increased transmissibility. Last week, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said in Parliament that 70 cases of the Delta Plus variant were found by INSACOG, a group of 28 laboratories involved in genome sequencing. Source
COVAXIN effective against Delta Plus Variants – The New Study by ICMR
In July, the Hyderabad-based company Bharat Biotech released data from the final analysis of COVAXIN and said that it demonstrated overall efficacy of 77.8 per cent against symptomatic infection. It also said that COVAXIN has now received emergency use authorisations (EUAs) in 16 countries including, Brazil, India, Philippines, Iran, Mexico, with EUAs in process in 50 countries worldwide.
India’s Innovation Milestone #covaxin enduring15months of unprecedented lockdowns&challenges.passion pursuit & support of Scientists , Clinical Researchers, Bioprocess Oprtns/ QC/QA TEAMs – Suchitra Ella, JMD, Bharat Biotech
COVAXIN : Final Analysis for COVAXIN® Efficacy from Phase 3 Clinical Trials
- Efficacy analysis demonstrates COVAXIN® to be 77.8% effective against symptomatic COVID19, through evaluation of 130 confirmed cases, with 24 observed in the vaccine group versus
106 in the placebo group - Efficacy analysis demonstrates COVAXIN® to be 93.4% effective against severe symptomatic
COVID-19 - Safety analysis demonstrates adverse events reported were similar to placebo, with 12% of
subjects experiencing commonly known side effects and less than 0.5% of subjects feeling
serious adverse events - Efficacy data demonstrates 63.6% protection against asymptomatic COVID-19
- Efficacy data demonstrates 65.2% protection against the SARS-CoV-2, B.1.617.2 Delta variant
India has undertaken one of the world’s largest vaccination drives and so far distributed more than 430 million doses. Covaxin was given emergency use authorisation on January 3 this year by India’s drugs regulator, Dr VG Somani, even though its efficacy data was still not out.
Bharat Biotech, meanwhile, said that it is in discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) to obtain emergency use listing (EUL) for Covaxin.
Emerging demand for COVAXIN in Globally
Further, company insiders say that the brand image of Covaxin as an ‘efficacious’ vaccine had not been dented by the Brazil controversy. “There has been renewed interest in Covaxin from new markets such as Singapore and Thailand, where concerns over the spread of the Delta variant of Covid virus are increasing,” said the source.
COVAXIN effective against COVID variants of concern
COVAXIN® Effective Against Variants of Concern: It has proven to neutralize the variants – B.1.1.7 (Alpha) first isolated in UK, P.1- B.1.1.28 (Gamma) & P.2 – B.1.1.28 (Zeta) first isolated in Brazil, B.1.617 (Kappa) first isolated in India, B.1.351 & B.1.617.2 (Beta & Delta) first isolated in RSA & India.
Efficacy data demonstrates 65.2% protection against the SARS-CoV-2, B.1.617.2 Delta variant.
All documents required for EUL have been submitted to WHO by Bharat Biotech for Covaxin as of July 9 and the review process by the agency has commenced, minister of state for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar told Rajya Sabha last week.
