4 Covid vaccine candidates in human trial stage, 1 in pre-clinical stage, govt tells Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are at different stages of human trials while one, developed by Genique Life Sciences, is in the advanced pre-clinical stage, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.

In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said Cadila Healthcare Ltd”s DNA-based vaccine candidate is in phase three clinical trial. It has also submitted the interim data for emergency use authorisation.

Biological E Ltd”s vaccine candidate is also in phase three clinical trial.

Bharat Biotech International Ltd”s Adeno intranasal vaccine candidate is in phase three clinical trial, while Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd”s mRNA-vaccine candidate is in Phase one clinical trial.

The Gurgaon-based Genique Life Sciences Pvt Ltd”s vaccine candidate is in the advanced pre-clinical stage, Singh said.

Currently, three vaccines — Serum Institute of India”s Covishield, Bharat Biotech”s Covaxin and Russian vaccine Sputnik V — are being administered in India.

Singh said ”Mission COVID Suraksha — the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission” was announced as part of the third stimulus package ”Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0” for promoting research and development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines.

“The mission is supporting the development of four vaccine candidates in the clinical stage of development and one vaccine candidate in advance pre-clinical stage of development.

“The clinical development of vaccine candidates is being undertaken across the clinical trial sites situated pan-India,” he added.