Vaccine major Serum Institute of India (SII) on Saturday said it is in the process of applying for an emergency use licensure for AstraZeneca-Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate in India in the next two weeks.
Addressing a virtual press conference on the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the company’s Pune facility, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said, “We discussed the the implementation plan which will happen only after the emergency use licensure. Such licence is granted based on the data that will have to be submitted. We are in the process of submitting that officially to the drug controller of India.”
Adar Poonawalla said that he was amazed by the Prime Minister’s knowledge about vaccines and vaccine production.
“We have built the largest pandemic-level facility in Pune and a new campus in Mandri. It was also shown to the Prime Minister with a tour around the facility and a lot of detailed discussions… Prime Minister is knowledgeable about vaccines and vaccine production… We were amazed. We discussed, in brief, the pros and cons of different vaccines that are out there,” said the pharma giant chief.
When asked if the company has applied for the emergency authorisation, Poonawalla said: “We are in the process of applying in the next two weeks for an emergency use licensure.”
The vaccine will be distributed initially in India and then the company will look at Covax countries, which are mainly in Africa, he added.
Serum Institute of India (SII) is conducting clinical trials of AstraZeneca-Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate in India.
Poonawalla also said it was a special day for the company with the Prime Minister visiting them to go into details on the manufacturing status not only its plants in Pune but on various partnerships and the impact, the vaccine industry is going to have to India and the globe.
In a tweet, the prime minister said: “Had a good interaction with the team at Serum Institute of India. They shared details about their progress so far on how they plan to further ramp up vaccine manufacturing. Also took a look at their manufacturing facility.”
Had a good interaction with the team at Serum Institute of India. They shared details about their progress so far on how they plan to further ramp up vaccine manufacturing. Also took a look at their manufacturing facility. pic.twitter.com/PvL22uq0nl
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2020
Poonawalla said, “Worldwide everybody is now dependent and is looking forward to the vaccines coming out in large volumes and at an affordable price from India as everybody already knows that more than 50 to 60 per cent of all vaccines are made in India.”
With the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision in mind, Serum Institute has built the largest pandemic level facility in Pune in its sister campus at Manjri and that was showcased also to the Prime Minister, he added.
Earlier in a tweet, Adar Poonawalla said: “Thank you @narendramodi for visiting @SerumInstIndia. We share your vision and continue to work towards ensuring a safe and secure India”.
In another tweet, he said: “Sri @narendramodi  Ji, it was a great honour for you to have spared the time, to visit us here at @SerumInstIndia to discuss in detail, the complex challenges yet to come and review the vaccine production status. @PMOIndia”.
Thank you @narendramodi for visiting @SerumInstIndia. We share your vision and continue to work towards ensuring a safe and secure India. https://t.co/FKykmenSd1
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) November 28, 2020