Covovax authorisation is a vital step in India, where additional vaccine options are needed: Novavax CEO

New Delhi: Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercialising next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, and Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, on Tuesday, announced that the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) for Novavax’s recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine with Matrix-M adjuvant.

The vaccine will be manufactured and marketed in India by SII under the brand name Covovax.

“No one is safe until everyone is safe, and today’s authorisation marks a vital step for India, where additional vaccine options and millions of doses are needed in the country’s ongoing efforts to control the pandemic,” said Stanley C Erck, President and chief executive officer, Novavax.

“Novavax and SII will not rest in our partnership to deliver our vaccine to those in India and across the globe, as we work to protect the health of people everywhere.” Because the vaccine is stored with standard refrigeration at 2° to 8° Celsius, it may be transported and stored using the existing vaccine supply chain, potentially increasing access in hard-to-reach areas.

“The approval of Covovax in India marks a significant milestone in strengthening our immunization efforts across India and LMICs,” said Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India.

“We are proud to deliver a proteinbased COVID-19 vaccine, based on Phase 3 clinical data demonstrating more than 90% efficacy and a favourable safety profile, to our nation.”