Cadila Healthcare (Zydus Cadilla) has received the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for ZyCoV-D the world’s first-ever Plasmid DNA Vaccine for COVID-19. The company is all set to launch the vaccine in September.
“We are making all efforts to roll it out as quickly as possible,” said Sharvil Patel, Managing Director – Zydus Cadila, speaking to the media. On pricing – Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Cadila said the company was working with the regulatory authorities and expected clarity emerging on pricing in the next one-two weeks. “Pricing will depend on technology, delivery and volumes, and also we have a benchmark pricing,” Patel said. “The most critical challenge for us now is, how to expand production to one crore doses at our new facility,” Patel said.
Patel averred Zydus was also in discussions with potential partners to scale up vaccine production in the coming months. “The company is working with partners and we have requested from overseas for transfer of technology,” Patel said. Patel said the EUA by DCGI is based on Phase-1, Phase-2 and Phase-3 interim efficacy data. “We have not completed the full phase-3, it would take four-six months for the publication of data,” Patel said.
ZyCoV-D, is a needle-free vaccine practised by PharmaJet. It consists of a needle-free applicator, which ascertains painless intradermal vaccine delivery to the user. This is a remarkable achievement by the Plasmid DNA platform, for developing a technologically advanced vaccine suitable for human use.
Patel asserted that the platform offered rapid plug and play technology, which could be easily adapted to deal with mutations in the virus including the Delta variant.
