Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wednesday said that Bharat Biotech’s COVID vaccine, Covaxin, neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and is effective against the double mutant strain as well.
The Apex body of biomedical research said that the ICMR-National Institute of Virology has successfully isolated and cultured multiple variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 which includes UK, Brazil and South African variant.
Last month, the COVAXIN during the phase 3 trials had shown an interim vaccine efficacy of 81 per cent in preventing Covid-19.
The Phase 3 trial, jointly initiated by ICMR and Bharat Biotech International Limited in mid-November 2020, was conducted in a total of 25,800 individuals across 21 sites.
Notably, the COVAXIN is the first COVID-19 vaccine that has been developed completely in India.
