India's own Covid vaccine gets WHO's nod for emergency use

Hyderabad: The World Health Organisation (WHO) gave its nod to India's first indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine, Corbevax, as an Emergency Use Listing, PTI reported.

The pharmaceutical firm Biological E Limited in India, which produces Corbevax, informed so. The vaccine is based on a protein sub-unit platform.

Mahima Datla, Managing Director of Biological E Ltd, said: "We are pleased with the WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) because it would help us use the platform to continue developing COVID-19 vaccines as and when it starts impacting public health. We are confident that this endorsement from WHO will bolster our global fight against COVID-19." The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had already approved Corbevax for restricted use in emergencies among adults, adolescents and young children in a sequential manner from December 2021 to April 2022.

It was also given approval for use as India's first heterologous COVID-19 booster shot for adults aged 18 and above, in June 2022.

The company supplied 100 million doses of Corbevax to the central government, which were then utilised in pan-India immunisation campaigns, mainly in children aged 14 years.

Datla said that several companies that started vaccine development or manufacturing during the COVID-19 pandemic exited later due to a paucity of funds or lack of success. However, BE continued to remain committed to developing and providing access to high-quality and affordable vaccines globally by constantly enlarging its portfolio of offerings, she added.