Phase I animal trials of Covaxin successful, says Bharat Biotech

The animal trials of Bharat Biotech International Limited’s coronavirus vaccine candidate, Covaxin, have been successful. The drugmaker said that the results had shown “remarkable immunogenicity and protective efficacy” in Phase I clinical trials in India.

The COVID-19 vaccine candidate — Covaxin — developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech, is being tested at 12 institutes across India. According to the Hyderabad-based firm, the data from the research on primates proves the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate.

Bharat Biotech tweeted: "Bharat Biotech proudly announces the animal study results of COVAXIN™ - These results demonstrate the protective efficacy in a live viral challenge model."

It stated that a 2-dose vaccination regimen of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates was administered in 20 rhesus macaques. One group was administered with placebo, while three groups were immunized with 3 different vaccine candidates at 0 and 14 days. All the macaques were exposed to viral challenge 14 days after the 2nd dose, it said.

Bharat Biotech stated that "The results showed protective efficacy, increasing SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and neutralizing antibodies, reducing replication of the virus in the nasal cavity, throat, and lung tissues of monkey."

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"No evidence of pneumonia was observed by histopathological examination in vaccinated groups, unlike the placebo group," he said.

-PTC News