Serum Institute Of India To Begin Human Trials Of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine; Has Tied Up For Mass Production

World's largest vaccine maker, Pune based Serum Institute of India (SII) said on Sunday (19 July) that it is aiming to develop a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the ongoing year, reports Livemint.

Adar Poonawala-led SII said that it will begin the human trials of its AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine from August onwards in India, even as the vaccine is already undergoing phase III clinical trials.

Apart from this, it should be noted that SII is also developing another live attenuated vaccine against COVID-19 in collaboration with US-based biotechnology firm Codagenix. The said vaccine candidate is presently undergoing pre-clinical trials.

SII has meanwhile also tied up with several other institutions globally which are engaged in the development of various potential vaccines, as a manufacturing partner. These include Austrian firm Themis along with two others.

With regards to AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, SII has entered into a manufacturing partnership with AstraZeneca to produce and supply a billion doses of the same.