US-based company ties up with Delhi firm for vaccine

NEW DELHI: New Delhi-based biotechnology company Panacea Biotec Limited has partnered with US-based Refana Inc in the development, manufacturing and distribution of an experimental coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine.

Panacea Biotec is working on product development and commercial manufacturing of an inactivated whole virus vaccine against Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. An inactivated whole virus vaccine uses a weakened or inactivated virus to trigger a lasting immune response against the infecting pathogen. It is a tried and tested platform, and examples of such vaccines include polio vaccine and smallpox vaccine.

The firm will produce at least 500 million doses, of which 40 to 45 million doses will be ready by January next year.

Panacea Biotec is the fifth biotech company from India to join global efforts on the development of a vaccine against Covid-19. There are at least 130 vaccines in various stages of development, of which 10 are in advanced stages of development, according to data from the World Health Organization.