Heath Ministry secures 300 million covid vaccine doses from Biological-E

The Union ministry of health and family welfare stated on Thursday that the Centre has concluded agreements with Hyderabad-based vaccine maker Biological-E to secure 300 million Covid-19 vaccine doses.

The vaccine, which is presently conducting phase 3 clinical testing, is expected to be accessible in the next months, according to the health ministry.

In India, Biological-E plans to conduct a clinical study of Providence's vaccine and apply for emergency use authorisation.

On Tuesday, Biological E. announced that it had entered into a licensing deal with Providence Therapeutics Holdings to produce the Canadian company's mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in India.

The company also has a different contract to manufacture approximately 600 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 shot every year.

Since the pre-clinical stage, the Indian government has backed the vaccine candidate. The Department of Biotechnology has teamed up with Biological-E to execute all animal challenge and assay studies through its Research Institute Translational Health Science Technology Institute in Faridabad (Haryana), in addition to providing financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid of above Rs 100 crores.

The assistance is part of the Indian government's "Mission COVID Suraksha- the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission," which seeks to develop a safe, efficacious, inexpensive, and accessible Covid-19 vaccine, according to the ministry.

The agreement with M/s Biological-E is part of the Government of India's larger effort to promote indigenous vaccine makers by granting them with research and development (R&D) assistance as well as financial assistance.