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MUMBAI: There’s a new vaccine technology platform in the works in India. Pune-based biotech firm Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, which recently secured government funding for its `messenger or mRNA-based vaccine’ candidate for SARS-CoV-2, is planning to start human trials by October. The company expects to launch the vaccine by March 2021, subject to successful completion of Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Globally, two mRNA based COVID19 vaccine candidates are being pursued by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNtech, which have completed Phase 1 human trials, and shown `promising’ results.
The mRNA vaccine technology is synthetic in nature and has the potential to reduce the speed of vaccine development timeline, Gennova CEO Dr Sanjay Singh told TOI. The `pandemic-ready’ tech platform can be utilised and scaled up in case the virus mutates, or a novel virus hits the world in future. Hence, vaccines under this platform can be quickly manufactured to ensure their “availability” and “accessibility” for mass vaccination on a sustainable basis.
In traditional viral vaccines, either inactivated (or attenuated) virus or viral proteins known to cause infection are used to immunize. While, the mRNA vaccine carries molecular instructions to make the protein in the body through a synthetic RNA of the virus. The host body uses this to produce the viral protein that is recognized by the immune system, thereby making the body ready to fight against the disease.
Further, the company is in discussions with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) –a global alliance financing and coordinating development of vaccines against infectious diseases, for supporting its vaccine development.
India is a major supplier of vaccines globally, and its huge manufacturing capacity is being considered by MNCs and global entities, a big asset for potential Covid-19 vaccines.
Globally, Cepi is funding nine potential vaccines with “pioneering technologies’’ under its Covid-19 programme, with University of Queensland’s candidate becoming the seventh to enter clinical trials recently.
Recently, Gennova secured Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) funding under Covid-19 Research Consortium, as part of the 10 shortlisted vaccine candidates. The DBT investment in Gennova marks its shift from supporting a conventional vaccine model to a next-generation tech platform.
The proposal went through a multi-layered review process, after which it was seed funded under India-CEPI, Singh added.
Gennova initiated the vaccine programme HGCO19 in January with its US partner, HDT Bio, who established the proof of concept on a laboratory scale. “We are developing the process for mass production, and plan to roll out 200 million doses to start with, next year”, he said, adding, clinical trials will include two cohorts (groups) of 18 – 55 years and 55- 70 years.
Since the mRNA technology platform for vaccine development offers an advantage in terms of significantly reduced timeline, establishment of this platform will enable India to be ready for future pandemic situations (like Covid-19) where we might be required to quickly produce a vaccine, he added.
In Video:Covid-19: Pune-based company to start human trials of vaccine in October
The mRNA vaccine technology is synthetic in nature and has the potential to reduce the speed of vaccine development timeline, Gennova CEO Dr Sanjay Singh told TOI. The `pandemic-ready’ tech platform can be utilised and scaled up in case the virus mutates, or a novel virus hits the world in future. Hence, vaccines under this platform can be quickly manufactured to ensure their “availability” and “accessibility” for mass vaccination on a sustainable basis.
In traditional viral vaccines, either inactivated (or attenuated) virus or viral proteins known to cause infection are used to immunize. While, the mRNA vaccine carries molecular instructions to make the protein in the body through a synthetic RNA of the virus. The host body uses this to produce the viral protein that is recognized by the immune system, thereby making the body ready to fight against the disease.
Further, the company is in discussions with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) –a global alliance financing and coordinating development of vaccines against infectious diseases, for supporting its vaccine development.
India is a major supplier of vaccines globally, and its huge manufacturing capacity is being considered by MNCs and global entities, a big asset for potential Covid-19 vaccines.
Globally, Cepi is funding nine potential vaccines with “pioneering technologies’’ under its Covid-19 programme, with University of Queensland’s candidate becoming the seventh to enter clinical trials recently.
Recently, Gennova secured Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) funding under Covid-19 Research Consortium, as part of the 10 shortlisted vaccine candidates. The DBT investment in Gennova marks its shift from supporting a conventional vaccine model to a next-generation tech platform.
The proposal went through a multi-layered review process, after which it was seed funded under India-CEPI, Singh added.
Gennova initiated the vaccine programme HGCO19 in January with its US partner, HDT Bio, who established the proof of concept on a laboratory scale. “We are developing the process for mass production, and plan to roll out 200 million doses to start with, next year”, he said, adding, clinical trials will include two cohorts (groups) of 18 – 55 years and 55- 70 years.
Since the mRNA technology platform for vaccine development offers an advantage in terms of significantly reduced timeline, establishment of this platform will enable India to be ready for future pandemic situations (like Covid-19) where we might be required to quickly produce a vaccine, he added.
In Video:Covid-19: Pune-based company to start human trials of vaccine in October
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