An accelerated approval for Zydus Cadila’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate by the Indian regulator has given the company global bragging rights to the first plasmid DNA vaccine for use in humans. Zy-CoV-D also becomes the first coronavirus vaccine to be given a nod for adolescents in India.
Zydus Cadila Turns DNA Pioneer With COVID-19 Vaccine Approval
Trials Planned In Younger Age Group
With an emergency approval, Zydus Cadila has commercialized the world’s first plasmid DNA vaccine for human use and the first COVID-19 vaccine for use in adolescents in India. Will efficacy against the Delta variant help tide over hesitancy towards a new technology or a lack of publicly published data hamper acceptance?
More from India
• By
Trump announced a 26% reciprocal tariff on India but a country-agnostic exemption of pharmaceuticals implies that the interests of Indian firms and the US consumer are protected for now. What is Indian pharma’s business exposure and what is domestic industry saying?
• By
Senior executives from AstraZeneca, BMS, Novo Nordisk, Takeda and Regeneron outline how big pharma's global capability centers (GCCs) in India are evolving beyond cost efficiency, focusing on innovation, “agile experimentation” and new technology including GenAI, virtual & augmented reality, with some positioned as COEs. Will Indian multinationals use the GCC approach?
• By
Heads of Novartis Biomedical, World Economic Forum and Indian majors like Sun Pharma’s SPARC, among others, discuss generative AI in drug discovery along with pointers for India to leapfrog the R&D process
• By
Lilly’s Mounjaro arrives in India, with the 2.5mg vial priced at under $41 in a market that has over 100 million diabetics and increasing obesity rates. Will the product see sharp demand like in China, carving out a chunk of the pie ahead of the potential arrival of semaglutide generics and could there be concerns of ‘suitcase' exports?
More from Focus On Asia
• By
Plus deals involving GV20/Mitsubishi Tanabe, Kaken/Alumis, AstraZeneca/Alteogen and deal terminations involving Clover/Gavi Alliance and Rhythm/RareStone.
• By
RemeGen is planning to complete enrolment in the global Phase III RemeMG study with telitacicept in generalized myasthenia gravis by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The Chinese firm has already sidelined two other global Phase III trials with the molecule to prioritize the indication.
• By
Kyoto-based venture moves HQ to California to expand R&D and business outreach for its regulatory T-cell technology, as it raises around $46m in public and private funding.