By Health In Five Writer
Aurobindo Pharma said it had entered into an agreement to develop, commercialise and manufacture U.S. firm COVAXX’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate for India and the UNICEF. The first multitope, synthetic peptide-based vaccine candidate in clinical trials, it need no special cold storage facilities. Normal refrigeration facilities (no freezing required) would suffice, a release said. This is expected to make the distribution process easier.
The Indian pharmaceutical company also has non-exclusive rights to sell the shot, which is currently undergoing an early-stage trial, in certain other emerging markets, the Hyderabad-based company said in an exchange filing.
COVAXX, a unit of privately-owned United Biomedical Inc, plans to pursue mid- and late-stage trials for the vaccine candidate from early 2021 in Asia, Latin America and the US.
The companies said the shot uses normal refrigeration as opposed to the freezing temperatures required for some vaccines, seen as beneficial for developing countries. The Phase 1 clinical trial for UB-612, the vaccine candidate, by COVAXX is underway. Phase 2/3 trials are expected to begin early in the first quarter of 2021 in Asia, Latin America and USA.
The release said Aurobindo will be produced the finished doses at its facilities in Hyderabad. The company has a capacity to manufacture 220 million doses in multi-dose presentation and building additional facilities that will more than double the capacity, to nearly 480 million doses, by June 2021.
N.Govindarajan, Managing Director, Aurobindo Pharma said, “We are proud to partner with COVAXX in developing the first-ever synthetic peptide-based vaccine to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This vaccine has immense potential in eliminating shedding and hence containing, the spread of the pandemic.”
