DBT shortlists three companies to fund for COVID-19 vaccine development 

The Department of Biotechnology has so far received 13 proposals for diagnostics, therapeutics and other interventions to fight pandemic. DBT has shortlisted three companies to fund for vaccine development, said a statement

The Department of Biotechnology and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council had invited applications on the COVID-19 Research Consortium. The first phase of the call ended on March 30 and around 500 applications were received from academia and industry, the DBT said in a statement.

Both repurposing of existing vaccine companies for immediate protection of high-risk groups and novel vaccine candidate development were considered while selecting proposals under this call.

“Funding support has been recommended to Cadila Healthcare Ltd for advancing the development of a DNA Vaccine candidate against novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and to Bharat Biotech International Ltd. for COVID-19 vaccine candidate utilising the inactivated rabies vector platform.”

For the Phase III human clinical trials study of recombinant BCG vaccine planned in high-risk populations, Serum Institute of India Private Limited (SIIPL) will be supported,” the statement said.

It also added that development of a novel vaccine evaluation platform at National Institute of Immunology, an institute under DBT, to support SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development has also been approved for financial support.