The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to step up efforts for a potential vaccine for the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The ICMR and Bharat Biotech intend to launch an indigenous vaccine for Covid-19 by August 15 after the end of the clinical trials.
ICMR has picked 13 institutions across India for clinical trials and asked them to start the subject enrollment by July 7. In a letter to the heads of the chosen institutions, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said that along with Bharat Biotech, they plan to fast-track clinical trials of the indigenous coronavirus vaccine (BBV152 COVID vaccine).
The 13 institutes have been asked by the ICMR to fast track clinical trials of the vaccine as it is being recognized as one of the top preference projects which are being observed at the highest level of the government.
