ZYCOV-D’S CLINICAL TRIAL STARTS IN MUMBAI, 50 CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE

MUMBAI: On Tuesday, Zydus Cadila’s indigenous Corona Vaccine Zycov-D’s trial started in Mumbai’s BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central. It has now become the first civic-run hospital to start the phase 3 clinical trial of the same. A total of 50 children between the ages of 12 and 17 will be enrolled for the trial.

“Zydus had approached us, we had certain concerns which were taken care of and from today we have started. Half of the beneficiaries will be given a placebo, a false replica of the vaccine and half will be given the vaccine, and then for a year they will be observed and checked upon. A bit different from what we see till now in India this vaccine will be given (0.2 Ml; 0.1 mL in each arm) 3 doses on days 0, 28 & 56.” said Dr. Ramesh Bharmal, dean, Nair hospital.

This Covid Vaccine Study primarily aims to demonstrate the efficacy of ZyCoV-D in the prevention of virologically confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 cases as compared to placebo. Ahmedabad-based drugmaker Zydus Cadila has manufactured ZyCoV-D— a plasmid DNA vaccine, which is the first-of-its-kind that uses a genetically engineered DNA molecule known as a plasmid which is coded to generate spike protein of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

Explaining how important is this vaccine in the backdrop of the upcoming anticipation of third-wave attacking the paediatric population, Dr. Ramesh Bharmal says, “We had seen First Wave attacked people with comorbidities, the second wave attacked several ladies and other age group people. Several youngsters were also affected. But the third wave is likely to affect children because the paediatric population has not been vaccinated, they are more prone to get contracted. In the backdrop of this vaccine will be playing an important role.”

Recently, Zydus Cadila applied to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the emergency use authorisation (EUA) of the vaccine.