IIL ties up with Oz university for COVID-19 vaccine

Hyderabad, Apr 7 (): The Indian ImmunologicalsLimited (IIL), a leading vaccines-manufacturing company, isgoing to commence research for developing avaccine forcoronavirus which has infected over a million and killedabout 55,000 people across the world so far.

The IIL joined hands with Griffith University ofAustralia by entering into an agreement for researchcollaboration to conduct exploratory research to develop alead vaccine candidate for coronavirus, a press releasesaid.

As part of the collaboration, scientists from thecity-based vaccine maker and the university would develop aLive Attenuated SARS CoV-2 vaccine orCOVID-19 vaccineusing the latestcodon de-optimisation technology,the release said.

The technology looks promising for developing avaccine for prophylactic, active, single dose immunisationagainst coronavirus in humans, with an enhanced safetyprofile.

The vaccine is expected to providelong-lastingprotection with a single dose administrationwith ananticipated safety profile similar to other licensed vaccinesfor active immunisation, it said.

Upon completion of the research, the vaccine strainwould be transferred to IIL and the vaccine-maker would workaccordingly with the countrys regulator CDSCO (The CentralDrugs Standard Control Organisation) - to further conductclinical trials which would be taken up in a phased manner.

IIL intends to use its existing vero cell platformtechnology for mass production of the virus.

Commenting on the research collaboration,IIL deputymanaging director Prasanna Deshpandesaid after evaluatingvarious options being followed across the world, the firmdecided to develop a Live Attenuated Covid-19 vaccine basedon codon de-optimisation technology.

With our dedicated research and developmentcapabilities supported with an excellent team of scientistsand engineers, IIL is committed to developing high-qualityvaccines that are affordable. We are confident that this newcross-continental collaboration will yield the desiredresults, Deshpande said.

IIL is already working with Griffith University forconducting research and development ofZika virusvaccinewhich is currently at pre-clinical toxicology testing stage.

The joint project has been progressing well and theIndian company is expected to submit the application forconducting clinical trials in due course, the release said. GDKNVG NVG