ICMR teams up with Bharat Biotech to develop Covid-19 vaccine: Here’s what you should know

Team Udayavani, May 19, 2020, 1:03 PM IST

The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) recently announced a research collaboration with Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL) to develop Covid-19 vaccine.

Here’s what you should know

ICMR, managed to isolate a strain of the novel coronavirus at its Pune-based National Institute of Virology and it has been transferred to Bharat Biotech.

ICMR’s apex laboratory, NIV, managed to isolate the virus as early as February, using the swab samples of the initial Covid-19 positive cases reported from the state of Kerala

Work on vaccine development has been initiated between the two partners. The ICMR-NIV will provide continuous support to BBIL for vaccine development.

The work on the first “Make in India” Covid-19 vaccine will also be backed by a fast-tracked approval system.

The Vaccine may take several years, to be developed as they go through several stages of pre-clinical research, animal testing and human trials with the aim of ensuring safety and efficacy.