Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SIIPL) has recently conducted a clinical trial of a recombinant BCG vaccine

Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SIIPL) has recently conducted a clinical trial of a recombinant BCG vaccine candidate, VPM1002 which has been supported under the Department of Biotechnology’s National Biopharma Mission.

Objective

• The objective of this trial is to evaluate the ability of VPM1002 in reducing infection incidence and severe disease outcomes of COVID-19 among high-risk persons of advanced age or co-morbidities and high-exposure healthcare workers (HCWs).

About the BCG vaccine

• It is administered routinely to all newborn babies as a part of the National childhood immunization programme to prevent tuberculosis (TB), an infection caused by bacteria that mainly affects the lungs.
• It has beneficial heterologous effects and proven antiviral and immune-modulatory properties that protect against infectious diseases through the induction of trained innate immunity and heterologous adaptive immunity.

About the Department of Biotechnology

• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
• Its objectives are to promote and accelerates the development of biotechnology in India, including the growth and application of biotechnology in the areas of agriculture, healthcare, animal sciences, environment, and industry.

About Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

• It is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.
• It works as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.

About National Biopharma Mission

• It is an Industry-Academia Collaborative Mission of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for accelerating discovery research to early development for Biopharmaceuticals.
• It has been approved by the Cabinet in 2017 for a total cost US$ 250 million and 50% co-funded by the World Bank is being implemented at Biotechnology Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
• The aim of the mission is to make India a hub for design and development of novel, affordable and effective biopharmaceutical products, and solutions.
• This Program would aid in enhancing India’s innovation research and product development capabilities, especially by focusing on the development of vaccines, biologics and medical devices for combating public health concerns.
• Vaccines, medical devices, and diagnostics and biotherapeutics are few of its most important domains, besides, strengthening the clinical trial capacity and building technology transfer capabilities in the country.

About Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SIIPL)

• Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by a number of doses produced and sold globally which includes Polio vaccine as well as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines.
• Vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute are accredited by the World Health Organization, Geneva and are being used in around 170 countries across the globe in their national immunization programs, saving millions of lives throughout the world.

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