Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccines stranded at Kasauli Lab for pending data: report

U.S. pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson's COVID vaccines, which were manufactured by Hyderabad, India-based Biological E, are stuck in the country's top vaccine testing lab in Himachal Pradesh due to data in expectation, according to a News18.com report.

According to the report, more than 35 lakh doses of the vaccine, which arrived at the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kasauli over a month ago, are in the laboratory due to confusion over the pending test parameters at submit by Biological E.

Speaking in detail on the matter, a source told News 18 that some tests have been done to verify the infectivity and potency of the S protein. According to updates, Biological E has yet to perform these. tests because they have to do it according to the procedure. JandJ Standard Operating (SOP) which may require a different set of skills and technology transfer.

The sources also added that the CDL is waiting for Biological E to present the test results as the Indian lab will run tests based on the references provided to verify the parameters declared by the company. While the Central Drugs Laboratory will carry out the tests according to the procedures of the Indian drug regulatory agency, the Central Drugs and Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Biological E would follow the SOP given by JandJ. vaccine in the United States by October. The report says it is still not clear whether the vaccine doses tested at CDL will be used for the vaccination campaign in India or for exports.