Serum Institute’s (SIIPL) VPM1002 recombinant BCG vaccine candidate trial is being supported by the Department of Biotechnology’s National Biopharma Mission.
Basic Facts
The objective of this trial is to evaluate the ability of VPM1002 in reducing infection incidence and severe disease outcomes of COVID-19 among high-risk persons of advanced age or co-morbidities and high-exposure healthcare workers (HCWs).
BCG vaccine
BCG vaccine is administered routinely to all newborn babies as a part of the National childhood immunization programme to prevent tuberculosis (TB), an infection caused by bacteria that mainly affects the lung.
BIRAC
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.
National Biopharma Mission
It is an Industry-Academia Collaborative Mission of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt of India.
The objective of this mission is to accelerate discovery research to early development for Biopharmaceuticals.
It was approved by the Cabinet for a total cost US$ 250 million and 50% co-funded by the World Bank.
It is being implemented at Biotechnology Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
This program is dedicated to deliver affordable products to the nation with an aim to improve the health standards of India’s population.
Vaccines, medical devices and diagnostics and biotherapeutics are few of its most important domains, besides, strengthening the clinical trial capacity and building technology transfer capabilities in the country.
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