This story is from December 1, 2020

PM holds virtual meeting with biotech, pharma cos

PM holds virtual meeting with biotech, pharma cos
Hyderabad: After his three-city Covid-19 vaccine tour over the weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held virtual meetings with top guns at three biotech and pharmaceutical players involved with the development and manufacturing of vaccine candidates for coronavirus.
In the hour-long meeting, the PM discussed the progress of various Covid-19 vaccine candidates with senior management at Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Biological E Ltd as well as Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals.

Dr Reddy’s chairman Satish Reddy and co-chairman and managing director GV Prasad along with the company’s CEO (API and Pharmaceutical Services) Deepak Sapra briefed the PM about the efforts underway in combating Covid-19, including the advancements in the Sputnik V clinical trials and the collaboration underway with regulatory authorities and hospitals in the country.
The Russian sovereign fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), has joined hands with Dt Reddy’s for conducting Phase II/III trials of Russian vaccine Sputnik V in India and distributing over 100 million doses of the vaccine in the country. Apart from this, the company has also been manufacturing drugs like Avigan, the innovator Favipiravir brand in tie-up with Japan’s Fujifilm, and Remdesivir following a pact with its innovator Gilead Sciences.
Biological E, on the other hand, has a recombinant protein vaccine candidate, being developed jointly with U-based Baylor College of Medicine and Dynavax Technologies, that has commenced Phase I/II clinical trials earlier this month.
A statement put out by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said apart from the progress on vaccine development front, the PM also deliberated on matters relating to logistics, transport and cold chain for delivery of the potential vaccines.

PMO said that all the vaccine candidates discussed are at different stages of trials and detailed data and results are expected early next year onwards.
The PM also asked these companies to come up with suggestions and ideas regarding regulatory processes and related matters. He also advised all the departments concerned to engage with manufacturers and seek to resolve matters so that the efforts by these companies bear fruit and serve the needs of not just the country but the entire world, PMO said.
He also urged these companies to take extra efforts to inform the general public in simple language about the vaccine and related matters such as its efficacy.
On Saturday, Modi had visited the facilities of Bharat Biotech, which is developing the country’s first indigenous vaccine Covaxin, in Hyderabad, Zydus Cadila in Ahmedabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune.
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