
Covid-19 vaccine update: Bharat Biotech begins phase 3 trials, Moderna says its candidate nearly 95% effective
A worldwide search for a vaccine to treat the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues, even as the number of cases globally, due to the pandemic, currently stands at more than 55 million including more than 1.3 million people who have succumbed to the virus, as per a tally maintained by worldometers.
Click here for full Covid-19 coverage
In the latest updates on a coronavirus vaccine, India’s Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Limited has started phase 3 trials of its vaccine candidate. America’s Moderna, meanwhile, claimed its vaccine candidate has been found to be 94.5% effective.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus vaccine development front:
(1.) Bharat Biotech on Monday started phase 3 clinical trials of its vaccine candidate, COVAXIN. Phase 3 trials will involve 26,000 volunteers and will be conducted in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). This is the largest clinical trial for a Covid-19 vaccine candidate in India as well as the country’s first phase 3 efficacy study of a vaccine candidate. Bharat Biotech is developing COVAXIN in collaboration with ICMR and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.
Also Read | Covid-19: Bharat Biotech begins Phase 3 trials of Covaxin in India
(2.) Also on Monday, US biotech firm Moderna released early results from a clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273. The vaccine candidate, Moderna said, was found to be 94.5% effective. However, in what could be a potential hurdle for India, mRNA candidates need extremely cold environment for storage and transport. Last week, after Pfizer announced its candidate was 90% effective, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director, Dr Randeep Guleria had said, “Pfizer vaccine has to be kept at minus 70 degrees Celsius which is a challenge for developing countries like India.”
Also Read | Covid-19 vaccine 90% effective in Phase 3 trial, says US pharma giant Pfizer
(3.) Johnson and Johnson, another US biotech firm working on a potential Covid-19 vaccine, has launched a second global phase 3 vaccine trial, besides an existing one. This latest trial has been named ENSEMBLE 2 and differs from other trials, including J&J’s own existing trial, in that it will explore a 2-dose regimen; most other trials are based on a 1-dose regimen. ENSEMBLE 2 will enrol up to 30,000 participants in the US, the UK, France, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Belgium, Colombia and the Philippines.
(4.) India is reportedly in talks with various firms over their potential vaccine candidates. Government officials are said to be in talks with firms like Moderna, Pfizer, Serum Institute of India (SII), Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila over the progress of the trials of their respective vaccine candidates, vaccine efficacy, safety, regulatory approvals etc.
(With agency inputs)

Nearly 3 lakh people vaccinated on Day 12 of Covid-19 inoculation drive

Ayodhya Dhannipur mosque complex layout ready for submission
- The Dhannipur project includes a mosque, hospital, museum, library, community kitchen, Indo-Islamic cultural research centre and a publication house.

PM Modi to address NCC rally in Delhi at 12pm

Republic Day violence: FIRs, blame-game, infighting mar farmers' protest

LIVE: Mexico reports 17,944 new coronavirus cases, 1,623 deaths
- India is currently conducting the world’s largest vaccination drive against Covid-19, administering shots of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine, Covishield, and Bharat Biotech International Limited’s Covaxin.

LIVE: No bullet injury, farmer died after tractor overturned, says UP Police

Beijing opposes New Delhi move to retain ban on 59 Chinese apps
- The ban was imposed last June on grounds of national security, months after the military standoff emerged into the open.
_1611793289453_1611793297981.jpg)
Ministries at odds over NEET exam
- Education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal’s proposal raised the hopes of thousands of students who were hoping to get two options.

Swimming pools to movie halls, more curbs relaxed
- The guidelines for “Surveillance, Containment and Caution”, applicable for February 1-28, also said the civil aviation ministry may take a call on further opening up of international air travel in consultation with the MHA.

Govt indicates offer to farmers still on table, channel for talks kept open
- The offer, however, is seen by many farm leaders as a tactic by the government to buy time, particularly keeping in mind the Punjab assembly elections due in February 2022.

Actor, ex-gangster at centre of farmers’ ire
- The farmers accused the two of taking control of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha stage on Monday evening, and pushing farmers to march onto the Outer Ring Road rather than the route decided with the police.

Jayalalithaa’s residence: Madras HC allows state to hold event on January 28
- Even though the case was posted for February 4, the court heard the case on Wednesday based on the request of the former Tamil Nadu CM's family.

Fix timeline for judicial appointments, says SC
- An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said that all endeavours should be made to ensure appointments come through in a time-bound manner.

TMC rigged the 2018 panchayat polls, alleges Suvendu Adhikari
- The TMC, however, has hit back calling it the height of hypocrisy and refuting the charges as baseless allegations.

Cracks in stir after mayhem; farmers call off Feb 1 march
- Leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the platform of farm unions leading the protests, on Wednesday apologised for the violent events in Delhi that have dented the credibility of the movement.