Mysuru-based JSS to carry out trials for Novavax vaccine

Mysuru-based JSS to carry out trials for Novavax vaccine

Institution was also approached for human trials of Sputnik V

02/10/2020

Laiqh A. Khan Mysuru

JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSSAHER), which has already begun phase three of the clinical trials for vaccine candidate Covishield at its facility in Mysuru, has been approached for human trials of Novavax, another COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by a U.S.-based company, as well as Russia’s Sputnik V.

JSSAHER Pro-Chancellor B. Suresh said the institution had consented to carrying out trials for Novavax while the request on Sputnik V had been kept in abeyance.

Novavax, the U.S.-based biotechnology company, has entered into a manufacturing pact with the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII). “Novavax approached us through SII, and we consented to it. We will be submitting the required documents shortly,” he said.

Though the institution was also approached for the human trials of Sputnik V, which has tied up with the Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Dr. Suresh said JSSAHER was still studying the proposal.

Apart from carrying out clinical studies for Covishield, the vaccine candidate developed by Oxford University and multi-national pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, JSSAHER has taken up human trials to study the efficacy of BCG, the anti-tuberculosis vaccine, against COVID-19. Dr. Suresh said a lot of interest had been generated for trials in India because of its huge capacity for making drugs.