COVAXIN may neutralize UK strain of COVID-19: Review report

By Nikita Gupta
(PTI desk)

Jan 27, 2021

05:40 pm

What's the story

COVAXIN, developed by Bharat Biotech, has the ability to neutralize the UK variant of the coronavirus, according to a pre-print review by bioRxiv, a free online archive and distribution service for unpublished pre-prints in the life sciences. The archives are operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a non-profit research and educational institution in New York.

Twitter Post

ICMR shared the information and report on Twitter

COVAXIN developed by @BharatBiotech with @ICMRDELHI has equivalent immunogenicity against the UK-variant circulating strains of SARS-COV-2 in India.@icmr_niv is the first in the world to culture the UK variant. Read more: https://t.co/HfhH8z6T8x / J Travel Med (In Press) pic.twitter.com/cGp537bi0H

— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) January 27, 2021

COVID-19 research

Sera collected from 26 recipients of COVAXIN was tested

Bharat Biotech performed the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT50) using sera collected from 26 recipients of COVAXIN and tested them against the UK variant and heterologous strain. "A comparable neutralization activity of sera of the vaccinated individuals showed against UK-variant and the heterologous strain with similar efficiency, dispel the uncertainty of possible neutralization escape," the pre-print review published on bioRxivs website said.

About COVAXIN

COVAXIN received permission for restricted use in emergency situations

COVAXIN is India's totally indigenous COVID-19 vaccine developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology. It is developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) bio-containment facility. It is currently under Phase-3 trials and is being used as part of the nationwide immunization program for healthcare workers.