Phase 3 results of Covaxin show 81% clinical efficacy

The Indian Council of Medical Research, the country's apex research body, and Bharat Biotech have announced that phase 3 results of Covaxin, developed by them, have shown an interim vaccine efficacy of 81 percent in preventing COVID-19, and dubbed it as an important milestone in vaccine discovery.

"The bench-to-bedside journey of the completely indigenous COVID-19 vaccine in less than eight months' time showcases the immense strength of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) to fight the odds and stand tall in the global public health community.

"It is also a testament to India's emergence as a global vaccine superpower," Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR, said on Wednesday.

In January, India's drugs regulator had approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and Covaxin for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for the massive inoculation drive.

Some questions were then raised about the approval to Covaxin as its phase three trial results were awaited, but the company and government authorities had discounted concerns.

"Today is an important milestone in vaccine discovery, for science and our fight against coronavirus. With today's results from our phase 3 clinical trials, we have now reported data on our COVID-19 vaccine from

Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials involving around 27,000 participants," Bharat Biotech Chairman & Managing Director Krishna Ella said. On Monday, PM Modi was administered Covaxin on the very first day of expansion of the inoculation drive. Covaxin has been developed on the WHO prequalified Vero cell platform which is globally recognized. It had shown an efficacy rate of 70 percent af ter two full doses. However, one of the regimens with a half dose and a full dose showed 90 percent efficacy against the virus.