Central government gives nod for two more vaccines and one anti-viral drug
The centre cleared two more vaccines today and one anti-viral drug to boost the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The two latest vaccines cleared by India are Corbevax and Covovax. The anti-viral drug Molnupiravir can be used only in an emergency, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted this morning.
Corbevax is India’s first homegrown “RBD protein sub-unit vaccine”, the Health Minister said. It is made by the Hyderabad-based firm Biological-E. “It’s a hat-trick! It’s now third vaccine developed in India,” Mr Mandaviya said. The other two vaccines developed in India are Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield.
The nanoparticle vaccine, Covovax, will be manufactured by the Pune-based SII.
The anti-viral drug Molnupiravir will be manufactured in India by 13 companies for restricted use under emergency situation to treat adult patients with COVID-19 and who have high risk of progression of the disease, the Health Minister said.