Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech at the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters in New York on Saturday said that India’s first mRNA vaccine was in the final stages. He said that “India has developed the world’s first DNA vaccine. An mRNA vaccine is in the final stages of development. Indian scientists are also developing a nasal vaccine against Covid-19.”
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) gave permission for conducting Phase II and Phase III study protocols for HGCO19, India’s first mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine in August.
Gennova Biopharmaceuticals also submitted the interim clinical data of the Phase I study to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the Government of India’s National Regulatory Authority (NRA).
The vaccine Subject Expert Committee (SEC) had reviewed the interim Phase I data and found that the mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine (HGCO 19) was tolerable, safe, and immunogenic in the participants of the study.
At present the Phase II studies are being conducted at approximately 10-15 sites and Phase III at 22-27 sites. Gennova is using the DBT-ICMR clinical trial network sites for this study. The vaccine is being developed by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Limited, a subsidiary of Pune-based Emcure Pharmaceuticals.
The scientists are working hard to come up with vaccine against COVID-19. Due to the dangerous coronavirus, many people have lost their lives.