OdishaPlus Bureau
SRM Medical Hospital and Research Centre in Chennai has begun the first phase of human clinical trials of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine. The principal investigator for the clinical trials, Dr. Satyajit Mohapatra confirmed the commencement of the human trials.
Bharat Biotech, said “the vaccine received DCGI approval for phase-1 and 2 human clinical trials and the trials will commence across India from July 2020.”
SRM is one of 12 institutions across India that will carry out the initial trials of COVAXIN. The coronavirus vaccine has been indigenously developed by Hyderabad’s Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR. Apart from Chennai, the trials have also been initiated in several other places including Delhi, Goa, Patna.
Earlier this month, in a letter to the institutions, the ICMR clarified that it wanted to launch the vaccine for mass vaccination by August 15. It had also advised the institutions to fast track all clinical trial approvals and ensure that the subject enrollment was initiated no later than July 7.
The Chennai based SRM Research Centre was earlier involved in clinical trials for Rotavirus vaccine, administered for protection against rotavirus infections which causes severe diarrhoea, and Pentavalent vaccine, administered to protect children from five diseases including hepatitis B and diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus.