Bharat Biotech's Nasal Covid Booster gets approval for testing in India

Bharat Biotech's Nasal Covid Booster gets approval for testing in India.

Vaccine maker Bharat Biotech has agreed to conduct third-stage clinical trials of the intranasal booster dose for those receiving both doses of covax. The Comptroller General of Drugs of India today approved the third phase of testing. The test will be conducted at nine locations across the country.

The test will be conducted in 900 subjects.

The nasal vaccine, BBV154, stimulates the immune response at the site of infection - in the nose - and is highly effective in preventing the spread of infection and Covid-19, says Bharat Biotech.

India has approved the vaccination of Covidshield, Covaxin and Sputnik V in India. Covaxin is approved for use under the 28-Day Multi-Dose Vial Policy (MDVP) provided by DCGI and WHO Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL).

The interval between the second dose and the booster dose is six months, according to reports, after timely testing, the country may receive an intranasal booster vaccine in March.

Earlier on Thursday, the country's drug regulator issued the regular market approval for the Covid-19 vaccine Covshield and Covaxin subject to certain conditions.