NEW DELHI: Serum Institute of India (SII), the largest vaccine maker of the world by doses, has sought government approval for emergency use authorisation of COVID-19 vaccine. Covishield vaccine is developed by SII with University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, a British drug maker. It is the second vaccine after Pfizer to apply for this approval with the Indian drug regulator, Drug Controller General of India (DGCI).
Application to DCGI mentioned that Covishield is safe and well-tolerated by the targeted population to fight against COVID-19 infection. Serum Institute of India has partnered with AstrZenecaPlc to conduct trials on Covishield vaccine in India. Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer, Serum Institute of India, tweeted that as promised, SII has applied for emergency use authorisation before December for made-in-India vaccine, Covishield.
Third phase trials of Covishield, co-sponsored by the Indian Council of Medical Research, are being conducted across the nation in addition to the clinical studies conducted by Oxford-AstraZeneca in United Kingdom and Brazil.