Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that the nasal vaccine against COVID-19 developed by Bharat Biotech has been approved by the drug controller for “restricted use” among adults “in case of emergency”.
Big boost to India’s fight against COVID-19!
Bharat Biotech’s ChAd36-SARS-CoV-S COVID-19 (Chimpanzee Adenovirus Vectored) Recombinant Nasal Vaccine Approved @CDSCO_INDIA_INF For primary immunization against COVID-19 in the age group of 18+ for restricted use in emergency situations.
— Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) 6 September 2022
“India has harnessed its science, research and development and human resources under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the minister said.
In February, in what was to be the country’s first such anti-Covid drug, Mumbai-based Glenmark launched a nasal spray (branded FabiSpray) in partnership with SaNOtize to treat adult patients.
The company received manufacturing and marketing approval from the Drug Controller General of India for its Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray as part of an accelerated approval process. “The Phase III trial in India met key endpoints and demonstrated a 94 percent reduction in viral load in 24 hours and a 99 percent reduction in 48 hours,” the official statement said.
As for the pandemic situation today, India saw a one-day increase of 4,417 coronavirus infections, the lowest in three months, as updated at 8 am on Tuesday.
The number of active COVID cases has come down to 52,336, while 23 deaths have been reported.
The Health Ministry said that active cases now comprise 0.12 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has increased to 98.69 per cent.
Vaccine development is also witnessing rapid growth around the world. UK health authorities on Saturday approved a second “bivalent” vaccine to be used as a booster to target both Omicron and the original strains of the virus.