NTAGI to discuss data of Gennova pharmaceuticals’ indigenous mRNA vaccine

Health

The first COVID mRNA vaccine to be developed in India and Biological E’s Corbevax Booster dosage for Covishield and Covaxin recipients will be discussed at a meeting of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization’s (NTAGI) Covid working group soon, according to sources on Monday. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) recently authorised Gennova Biopharmaceuticals’ COVID 2 dosage mRNA vaccine for restricted use in emergency settings for those over the age of 18. This vaccination is the first to ever be stable for storage between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.

Prior to this meeting, sources present at the meeting told ANI that the Subject Expert Committee under India’s drug regulator concluded that the evidence given by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals was adequate.

Gennova Biopharmaceuticals first provided the data in April, and then further information was added in May.

Dr. Sanjay Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Whole-Time Director, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., stated earlier this month in an interview with ANI that the business is prepared to launch India’s first mRNA vaccine in 72 hours following the government’s approval.

“We are ready with the vaccine, hopefully as soon as the NTAGI gives us the permission and the government gives us the way out we are able to roll out within 72 hours,” he said.

Under the trade name GEMCOVAC-19, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.’s mRNA vaccine will be distributed. Depending on demand, the firm has the ability to generate 200–300 million doses.

“At present, we can go to 200-300 million doses, we can produce depending upon the need, but this can be scaled up because this is the advantage of this technology. You don’t need huge manufacturing plants,” Dr Singh said.

On pricing of the vaccine Dr Singh said that the pricing of the vaccine hasn’t been yet decided, but the company is in conversation with the government.

“The pricing of the vaccine hasn’t been decided yet, it’s under conversation with the government but it has to be competitive pricing,” he said.

The indigenous innovative mRNAvaccine is based on the second wave driven by the Delta variant and can be kept under 2 to 8 degrees Celsius this means vaccines can be stored between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. Most other vaccines have to be stored at sub-zero temperature.

“Due to logistic issues, mRNA vaccines haven’t reached to the neediest one. We will try to do this, we are going towards different regions Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. So, that we can not only have vaccine supply but also have the joint manufacturing facilities in different regions,” explained Dr Singh when asked about future plans and export of vaccines.