It is world’s first DNA based Covid-19 vaccine, indigenously made in India that can administered in humans including children aged 12 and above.
The Newster
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved ZyCoV-D by Zydus Cadila for emergency use after all three successful clinical trials.
The trial has been done in over 28,000 volunteers that showed 66.66% efficacy against symptomatic RT-PCR positive cases. As of now, it has been largest Covid-19 trail in India.
“This vaccine had already exhibited robust immunogenicity and tolerability and safety profile in the adaptive Phase I/II clinical trials carried out earlier. Both the Phase I/II and Phase III clinical trials have been monitored by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB)”, Ministry of Science & Technology said in a press release.
It is world’s first DNA based Covid-19 vaccine, indigenously made in India that can administered in humans including children aged 12 and above.
The 3-dose vaccine initiates spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and produces an immune system that protects from the disease and clears viral.
“The plug-and-play technology on which the plasmid DNA platform is based can be easily adapted to deal with mutations in the virus, such as those already occurring”, the ministry said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed the nation about the approval of the vaccine. PM Modi in his tweet said, “The approval for world’s first DNA based ‘ZyCov-D’ vaccine of @ZydusUniverse is a testimony to the innovative zeal of India’s scientists.”
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On the approval of the vaccine, Chairman of the Zydus Group, Mr. Pankaj R. Patel said, “We are extremely happy that our efforts to put out a safe, well tolerated and efficacious vaccine to fight COVID-19 has become a reality with ZyCoV-D”.
To create the world’s first DNA vaccine at such a crucial juncture and despite all the challenges, is a tribute to the Indian research scientists and their spirit of innovation. I’d like to thank the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for their support in this mission of Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Indian Vaccine Mission COVID Suraksha”, he added.
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