Nasal Covid Vaccine Gets Regulatory Nod for further trials
India’s first nasal vaccine against COVID-19 has received the nod to conduct phase 2 and 3 clinical trials by the Department of Biotechnology.
Key Points
- Nasal Covid Vaccine has been developed by Bharat Biotech.
- Vaccine has successfully completed Phase 1 clinical trial in age groups of 18 to 60 years.
- According to the officials, doses of this vaccine administered to healthy volunteers in Phase I clinical trial were well-tolerated.
- It was found to be safe, immunogenic and well tolerated during the pre-clinical toxicity studies.
- It was able to evoke high level of neutralizing antibodies in studies on animals.
- The nasal vaccine is the first of its kind COVID-19 vaccine that is undergoing human clinical trials in India.
About the nasal vaccine
Bharat Biotech has developed the first ever nasal vaccine called BBV154. It is a novel adenovirus vectored; intranasal vaccine developed to build immunity against COVID-19. The vaccine stimulates a broad immune response which neutralizes IgG, mucosal IgA, as well as T cell responses. It has been developed with the view that, Immune responses at the site of infection (nasal mucosa) is needed to block both infection and transmission of COVID-19. Bharat Biotech has brought and in-licensed this technology from Washington University, St Louis in US.
Significance of the vaccine
- This vaccine is significant because the nasal route has high potential to vaccination due to organized immune systems of nasal mucosa.
- It is Non-invasive and Needle-free.
- It does not require trained health care workers for its administration. Thus, it could increase the pace of vaccination.
- It eliminates the needle-associated risks like injuries and infections.
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Month: Current Affairs - August, 2021