Oxford University's AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Clear for Clinical Trials in India

Strategic Insights -

As India pushes forward in its fight against COVID-19, the institutional ethics committees of the Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, and KEM Hospital have given a go-ahead for the clinical trials of the Oxford University's AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. The trials are expected to begin soon, with the Bharati Hospital anticipating a sample size of around 300-350 volunteers and the KEM Hospital expecting around 200-250 participants. This development is a significant step towards the potential availability of the vaccine in India.

Key Takeaways:

  • The institutional ethics committees of Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, and KEM Hospital have approved the clinical trials of the Oxford University's AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
  • The KEM Hospital's principal investigator, Ashish Bawdekar, confirmed that they received approval from the ethics committee on August 13.
  • The first recruitment of volunteers was initially set for August 20, but it has been pushed back to the last week of August due to a delay in receiving vials for the trial.
  • Sanjay Lalwani, medical director of Bharati hospital, stated that the trials aim to study the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine, with a sample size of around 300-350 volunteers.
  • The meeting of principal investigators from shortlisted sites across the country is scheduled for Friday to discuss the trial details.

Statistics:

  • The KEM Hospital is anticipating a sample size of around 200-250 participants for the clinical trials.
  • The Bharati Hospital is expecting a sample size of around 300-350 volunteers for the trial.
  • The first recruitment of volunteers was initially set for August 20, but it has been pushed back to the last week of August.
  • The Oxford University's AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is the second recombinant viral vector-based vaccine to be tested for efficacy and safety.

Sources:

  • Bharati Hospital and Research Centre
  • KEM Hospital
  • Ashish Bawdekar, Principal Investigator, KEM Hospital
  • Sanjay Lalwani, Medical Director, Bharati Hospital
  • Times of India (TOI)