As World hunts for Covid-19 vaccine, a look at Top 10 in the race

New Delhi: With Covid-19 pandemic inflicting unprecedented loss to human lives across the world, a race for the vaccine against the deadly virus is underway. Over 170 countries have been working independently or with the WHO in developing an antidote to the virus.

Close to 10 lakh people have died across the world, due to deadly Coronavirus. However, with co-ordinated effort of global pharma companies, a vaccine by early next year looks real as many of them are in different stages of clinical trial.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan recently told Parliament that in India, over 4 coronavirus vaccines are in advanced stages of pre-clinical trial.

According to reports, 42 Covid-19 vaccines have reached different stages of human trials. Out of this, 10 are supposed to be leading the race.

A lowdown on Covid-19 vaccines

AstraZeneca-University of Oxford: AZD1222

AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford are jointly developing Covid-19 vaccine. Phase I trial was initiated way back in April while Phase-2/3 clinical trials began. In Phase 3, the company has enrolled 30,000 participants in United States. It is also being tested on over 12,000 volunteers in the UK, 5,000 participants in Brazil and South Africa while in India, Serum Institute of India is testing it on 1,700 participants. The trial of this vaccine was stopped mid-way early this month, after a volunteer developed some complications, however, it has begun again.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has a production deal with AstraZeneca for the UK’s Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The vaccine would be distributed in India through Serum Institute of India.

Johnson & Johnson: JNJ-78436735

Johnson & Johnson has announced biggest sample size for phase-3 clinical trial. The company said that it hopes to test its vaccine on about 60,000 people before finally rolling it in the market.

“We can confirm that planning and recruitment is underway for our phase-3 programme, which is subject to interim data of the phase-1/2 trials and approval of the regulators. Our phase-3 programme is intended to be as robust as possible, could include up to 60,000 participants and will be conducted in places with high incidence rates,” J&J spokesperson was quoted by Reuters as saying.

However, it’s trials will be limited to 3 nations only – US, Mexico and Brazil, apparently the two most affected countries.

If proven to be safe and effective, the first batch of the vaccine should be available by early 2021.

Moderna: mRNA-1273

The company initiated phase-3 clinical trial on July 27. In Phase-3, the vaccine will be tested on 30,000 volunteers. It may roll out Covid-19 vaccine by 1st half of 2021. However, the company may also apply for early approval for treatment of high-risk groups if reports of Phase-3 clinical trials are effective and promising.

Novavax: NVX-CoV2373

Novavax initiated phase-3 clinical trial in UK on on September 24. The company has earmarked a participant base of 10,000 individuals aged between 18-84 years over the next 4-6 weeks. The company expects to roll out the vaccine by mid-2021.

Novavax has also a partnership with Serum Institute of India and will be marketed here by the latter.

Sputnik V vaccine

Russia was the first nation to develop vaccine for Covid-19 and it also got it approved by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute on August 11. The vaccine was approved after completion of Phase-I and Phase-II trial. However, its vaccine named Sputnik-V has announced Phase-III trial on 40,000 people.

Russian Direct Investment Fund recently struck a deal with Dr Reddy’s to conduct clinical trials in India as well as distribute 100 million doses of vaccines in India.

Bharat Biotech: Covaxin

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is one of the frontrunners in the race for a Covid-19 vaccine in India. It is being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Bharat Biotech began Phase– 1 and 2 trials in July and looks to launch Phase-3 trials in October. Under Phase 3, the company will test vaccine on 25,000-30,000 volunteers in India and other countries. The vaccine is unlikely to hit the medical stories before mid 2021.

Zydus Cadila: ZyCoV-D

Unlike other, Zydus Cadila has taken a novel approach to develop vaccine against novel Coronavirus. The vaccine will have genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 proteins that will signal human cells to make SARS-CoV2 antigen, thus eliciting an immune response.

Zydus Cadial began Phase–1 and 2 trials in July and set to launch Phase-3 trial son with a sample size of 15,000-20,000 participants.

The launch of the vaccine is likely by 1st half of 2021.

Cansino

It is Chinese vaccine candidate being developed by CanSino Biologics and Beijing Institute of Biotechnology and Academy of Military Medical Science. It has already got approval from the Chinese military.

Cansino vaccine started its Phase-3 trial in August and plans to conduct test on about 40000 participants. The vaccine may be launched by middle of 2021.

Serum Institute – CDX-005

Serum Institute of India, the world’s biggest vaccine maker is also developing its own vaccine apart from partnering with firms like up Oxford-AstraZeneca and Novavax to mass-produce their vaccine candidates.

Serum Institute has collaborated with SpyBiotech for developing its own vaccine. Its phase 1/phase 2 human trials are being conducted in Australia.