After Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, which is now being called Covishield, appeared to be safe in the first and second phases of human trials in the UK, Indian manufacturer of the vaccine Serum Institute today said the decisive third phase of the trials would start in India from August.
Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawala today said the first and second phases of trials had established the safety of the vaccine. The third phase would be crucial as it would show how much protection the vaccine would give against Covid-19. Poonawala said Serum Institute would start the third phase of trials for the Oxford vaccine in August and conclude it by October-November.
Five sites across the country are ready for the third and final phase of human trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Secretary Renu Swarup said on Monday.
This is an essential step because it is necessary to have data within the country before the vaccine is administered to Indians, Swarup told PTI.