PGI Chandigarh set to begin Phase-2 trial of Oxford's Covid-19 vaccine candidate today

Chandigarh: While people have been waiting for a vaccine against the novel coronavirus, the phase-2 human clinical trial of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine candidate — Covishield — by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) is set to commence on Tuesday.

The SSI has joined hands with British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca to manufacture coronavirus vaccine candidate, developed by the Oxford University.

Prakash Kumar Singh, Additional Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Serum Institute of India (SII) said that they have got all the approvals from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). It is going to start the human clinical trial at the Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Medical College and Hospital from August 25, he added.

The trials would take place across 17 selected sites. These include AIIMS Delhi, BJ Medical College in Pune, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS) in Patna, PGIMER (PGI) in Chandigarh, AIIMS Jodhpur, Nehru Hospital in Gorakhpur, Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam and JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research in Mysore. As many as 1,600 people of age above 18 years are likely to participate in the trials.

Also Read | Legendary sprinter Usain Bolt contracts COVID-19

As per the sources, the study is to determine the safety and immunogenicity of 'Covishield' on healthy adults. It will begin at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital in Pune.

-PTC News