Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan addressing media on Tuesday (Picture Courtesy: Youtube @PIB India)
India's Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on Tuesday that the country's regulators are looking at four more Covid-19 vaccines in the pipeline. Among these are the vaccines developed by Zydus Cadilla, Russia's Sputnik-V, Biological E and Gennova.
Zydus Cadilla completed the Phase 2 clinical trials of its coronavirus vaccine in December of last year and has been granted approval for Phase 3. Similarly, the Phase 2 clinical trials of Russia's Sputnik-V Covid-19 vaccine have also concluded and Phase 3 trials are being carried out by its Indian partner Dr Reddy's Laboratories.
In the case of Biological E, the Phase 1 clinical trials of its vaccine started in December and Phase 2 is expected to begin in March. Gennova's RnA-based Covid-19 vaccine is currently in Phase 1 with Phase 2 clinical trials likely to begin in March of this year.
US pharma giant Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine will be priced at Rs 2,800 for two doses while Moderna's will cost anywhere between Rs 2,300 to Rs 2,700 per dose. One vaccine developed by China has been priced at Rs 5,600 per dose while another Chinese vaccine will be made available in India at Rs 1,200 per dose.
Sputnik-V, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Russia will cost Rs 734 per dose while the one developed by Johnson & Johnson is also expected to be priced at Rs 734 per dose.