Biological E-manufactured J&J's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India by October
The one-dose COVID-19 vaccine developed by American pharma giant Johnson & Johnson and manufactured by the company's local partner, Hyderabad-based Biological E, is likely to be available in India by October, reported News18. The vaccine batches would reportedly undergo final testing next week at the country's premier laboratories, the state-run Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli, and the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune.
Vaccine likely to be available by next month: Government official
An official from the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, familiar with the development, told News18, "The inspection of batches [of the Biological E-manufactured J&J vaccine] and documents is on. Soon, they will be released for undergoing safety and quality testing." "The vaccine is likely to be available for immunization drive by next month, if everything goes smoothly," added the official.
'Awaiting the nod on some usual procedures from the DCGI'
Meanwhile, another source in the Union Health Ministry has also confirmed to News18 that the roll-out of the J&J single-dose vaccine in India is "very near." "We are awaiting the nod on some usual procedures from the DCGI. Once he gives the go-ahead, it will take less than a month for the vaccine to hit the market," the official said.
Quantity of doses in initial roll-out may not be high
However, it's still unclear how many doses of the J&J vaccine will be made available in India next month. Even the aforementioned Health Ministry officials couldn't provide details on this. "Quantity may not be much but...it's a single-shot vaccine. Their production is totally dependent on the APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients)...from J&J. Biological E's role is to manufacture the final formulation," the second official said.
J&J vaccine received emergency approval in India last month
To recall, J&J's single-shot vaccine, called Janssen, was granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the country's top drug regulator, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), back on August 7. Earlier in May, it was announced that Johnson & Johnson has partnered with the Hyderabad-based biotechnology and biopharmaceutical firm, Biological E, for the production of its coronavirus vaccine in India.
Six vaccines approved for use in India so far
J&J's shot became the fifth vaccine against the deadly COVID-19 to receive the EUA in India. Later, on August 20, Zydus Cadila's three-dose ZyCoV-D vaccine also got the EUA from the DCGI, taking the number of approved vaccines for use in the country's COVID-19 immunization drive to six. These include Covishield (the Indian version of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine), COVAXIN, Sputnik V, Moderna, Janssen, and ZyCoV-D.
J&J shot has 85% efficacy in preventing severe infection
According to Johnson & Johnson, its one-shot vaccine has an efficacy rate of 66% in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 cases. J&J also said its jab is "85% effective in preventing severe disease...and showed protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death, beginning 28 days after vaccination."
J&J vaccine roll-out likely by year end, says another report
Separately, Mint reported J&J's vaccine would arrive by 2021-end, citing the drugmaker's Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels. At a press conference, Stoffels said, "We are transferring our technology to Biological E...for substance manufacturing...the active vaccine material has started and fill-and-finish (bottling) has started...By the end of this year, we expect 50% of our vaccines will be available to low- and middle-income countries."
