India’s Gennova Biopharmaceutical working on Omicron-specific vaccine

By Nikita Chaurasia  | Date: 2022-01-18

India’s Gennova Biopharmaceutical working on Omicron-specific vaccine
  • Gennova's potential mRNA vaccine is currently undergoing Phase II and Phase III trials.
  • If approved for a EUA, it would be India’s first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Gennova Biopharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Pune-based drugmaker Emcure, is reportedly working on an Omicron-specific vaccine that is likely to be ready in a couple of months. The potential vaccine might undergo a small trial in India before being exported as a booster shot or a standalone vaccine.

The apparent mRNA vaccine, produced specially to counter the recent Omicron variant, will be tested on humans first to know its efficiency and immunogenic soon.

The company had issued a press statement regarding the vaccine back in September 2021. It stated that the DCGI (Drug Controller General of India) had already approved the Phase II and Phase III study for the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Gennova has already filed its Phase I study with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Even the SEC (Subject Expert Committee) has deemed the company’s HGCO19 vaccine candidate as tolerable, safe, and immunogenic among the participants.

Meanwhile, Gennova has claimed that the Phase II and III study is being conducted across 15 and 27 sites in India, essentially using the DBT-ICMR trail network for its clinical study. If approved the vaccine for an emergency use authorization (EUA), it would be India’s first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

In other news, a recent Israeli trial found that Pfizer’s fourth dose is still insufficient to counter the Omicron variant. Although the fourth dose managed to increase the COVID-19 antibodies count in the participants, it was still “not good enough” to completely ward off the Omicron variant.

Some experts believe that Pfizer’s fourth dose could be used for those who are at the highest risk, but also suggested that it would be ideal to give the shot to senior citizens instead of to those just over the age of 60.

Source credits –

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/punes-gennova-biopharmaceuticals-developing-covid-19-vaccine-for-omicron-variant

About Author

Nikita Chaurasia     aeresearch.net

Nikita Chaurasia

An accomplished professional in the field of content development, playing with words comes naturally to Nikita Chaurasia. After completing her post-graduate MBA degree in Advertising and PR, Nikita worked across numerous content-driven verticals, undertaking diverse r...

Read More >>

More News By Nikita Chaurasia

Pacific Island pushes Japan to delay wastewater release from Fukushima

Pacific Island pushes Japan to delay wastewater release from Fukushima

By Nikita Chaurasia

Pacific Island nations have reportedly pushed Japan to postpone the release of Fukushima nuclear power plant wastewater due to concerns that it may pollute fishing grounds. An appeal was made on Wednesday when Japan announced that treated sewage f...

Activist groups take Danone to court over excessive use of plastics

Activist groups take Danone to court over excessive use of plastics

By Nikita Chaurasia

Danone, the French bottled water and yogurt firm, is reportedly being sued in court by three environmental activists’ groups for failing to cut its plastic footprint significantly. According to the groups, the maker of Evian and Volvic miner...

Bosch expands security with dashcams designed for rideshare drivers

Bosch expands security with dashcams designed for rideshare drivers

By Nikita Chaurasia

Bosch, the German technology company, has reportedly expanded its security footprint in the ridesharing market with the launch of its latest security dashcams. At CES 2023, Las Vegas, the German tech firm unveiled a new integrated smart camera on ...

Australia: PM Albanese denies potential $450M payout to Rio Tinto

Australia: PM Albanese denies potential $450M payout to Rio Tinto

By Nikita Chaurasia

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reportedly denied rumors that Rio Tinto and its partners could receive a $450 million settlement for the Gladstone power station, which would bring the total compensation for the coal price limit to...

UK: Firms still struggle with post-Brexit trading and red tape

UK: Firms still struggle with post-Brexit trading and red tape

By Nikita Chaurasia

Businesses in the UK are still reportedly grappling after two years following the beginning of post-Brexit trading, as suggested by a new report. According to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), firms are still battling increased red tape and ...