Bharat Biotech's nasal Covid vaccine iNCOVACC launched

The announcement regarding the launch of iNCOVACC on January 26 was made last week by the company’s chairman and managing director. The nasal Covid vaccination has already received official approval for use among people older than 18 years, and it will also be given as a heterologous booster dose.

For patients, who have already got Covaxin and Covishield, the nasal vaccine can also be used as a heterologous booster dose. iNCOVACC is the first intranasal vaccine in the world to get approval for both primary series and heterologous booster is.

The shot will be on the Covid-19 list of vaccines and be accessible in private institutions. According to Bharat Biotech, the intranasal vaccine will cost Rs 325 per injection for government purchases and Rs 800 per shot for private immunisation facilities.

A primary 2-dose regimen for people aged 18 and older in an emergency situation had previously been authorised under limited use. Phase III trials of the vaccine were conducted on 3,100 participants at 14 trial sites across India to evaluate immunogenicity and safety. Hyderabad-based companies also intend to export iNCOVACC overseas once it gets licensed.

Bharat Biotech is currently in discussions with overseas “potential partners”, who have contacted the company about producing and distributing the intranasal vaccine internationally, according to corporate sources. The vaccine was partnered with Washington University in St. Louis, who created the recombinant adenoviral vectored construct and tested its efficacy in pre-clinical investigations.