In an unprecedented concession to COVID-19 vaccine makers like Pfizer Inc. and Moderna, Inc., the Indian government has waived a requirement for bridging trials even after these vaccines are granted an accelerated approval.
Pfizer in particular has been insistent on not conducting bridging trials and has, in addition, been seeking indemnity from the Indian government. Reluctant to grant these concessions so far, the Indian government has finally agreed on the first and is close to accepting the second condition as well given the need to ramp up immunization as the second wave of the pandemic adds body counts every single day
