The World’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, Serum Institute of India (SII) has provided the most reliable report regarding the pricing of AstraZeneca – Oxford University coronavirus vaccine.
The Pune-based firm said that has signed a new landmark partnership with GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance and Gates Foundation to expedite the production and deliver up to 100 million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccine for India and low-income countries.
As per the deal, Oxford – AstraZeneca’s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (called Covishield in India) is expected to be priced around $3 per dose in low-and middle-income countries which roughly converts the Indian pricing to be around Rs 225 per dose in India.
This article is often updated to provide the most reliable and latest information on all matters related to COVID-19 vaccine candidates across the globe. You can read the updated report below.
Latest update as on 27 August 2020
Oxford – AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to begin phase 2 trials in India
Oxford – AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (called Covishield in India) is expected to begin its phase 2 trials in India by the first week of September.
Chandigarh-based Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is awaiting the signing of the tripartite agreement between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Serum Institute of India (SII) within the next two days.
The signing of the agreement would be followed by a site inspection and hands-on training to a 16-member staff selected to conduct the trial by Clinical Research Organisation (CRO), which is expected by September 2.
Russia begins trials of its second COVID-19 vaccine candidate
After the formal registration of its first COVID-19 vaccine candidate, Sputnik V, Russia is preparing to conduct trials of a second COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the Vector virology institute in Siberia.
Reports suggest that the country has already entered an advanced trial stage for its second potential cure with approvals expected by late September or early October.
USA’s Novavax expects to file COVID-19 vaccine approval in December
Stanley Erck, CEO of American vaccine development company, Novavax has reportedly said that the firm expects filing for approval of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the US in December.
Novavax has already begun enrolling volunteers for the second phase of an ongoing clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, with interim data expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Early-stage data from a small clinical trial of the vaccine has shown it produced high levels of virus-fighting antibodies.
Canada ends alliance with Chinese vaccine maker CanSino Biologic
Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) has ended its partnership for a coronavirus vaccine with CanSino Biologics, citing the Chinese company’s lack of authority to ship the vaccine at this time.
“The process is not clear to the NRC, but CanSino does not have the authority to ship the vaccine at this time,” said NRC in its statement.
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate induced similar immunity among old as well as young candidates
The recent new safety data shared from an early trial provided evidence that Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine stimulates the immune systems of older people.
The firm said that antibody levels produced in people more than 55 years old were comparable to those seen in younger adults. The results from Moderna’s early-stage trial, which include data from 20 people in the older age group, were presented Wednesday to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Older update on August 7, 2020
The price for Oxford – AstraZeneca’s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (called Covishield in India) is expected to be around $3 per dose in low-and middle-income countries which roughly converts the Indian pricing to be around Rs 225 per dose in India.
Recently, Serum India received permission from India’s Drugs Controller General (DCGI) to conduct phase 2/3 clinical trials of Oxford University’s vaccine which is currently undergoing the late-stage, phase 3 trials in the UK and Brazil, and phase 1/2 trials in South Africa.
The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 is being seen as one of the most promising vaccine candidates developed against the SARS-CoV-2 or coronavirus as results from the early human trials published in the medical journal The Lancet showed that the vaccine induces strong immune response with no safety concerns.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that six vaccine candidates against the novel coronavirus have entered the phase 3 trials. Apart from the Oxford/AstraZeneca’s vaccine, five other candidates that are currently in the phase 3 trials are from Moderna/NIAID, BioNTech/Fosun Pharma/Pfizer, Sinovac, Wuhan Institute of Biological Products/Sinopharm and Beijing Institute of Biological Products/Sinopharm. However, none has yet been approved for widespread use.
