CDSCO to Review COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Applications Today
This development comes after Bharat Biotech applied for emergency authorisation for its vaccine from the DCGI.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) will meet on Wednesday, 9 December, to review applications for emergency authorisation of Serum Institute of India, Pfizer and most recently, Bharat Biotech, of their respective COVID-19 vaccines, PTI reported.
This development comes after Hyderabad-based company Bharat Biotech became the third pharmaceutical firm seeking emergency authorisation from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for Covaxin, its indigenously produced COVID-19 vaccine.
A source informed, “DCGI has already started processing the applications. The subject expert committee (SEC) on COVID-19 at CDSCO will deliberate on the applications by Pfizer, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech seeking emergency use authorisation for their COVID-19 vaccines on 9 December.”
Serum Institute of India had sought the DCGI’s approval for its Oxford COVID-19 vaccine on 6 December.
Earlier, global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s Indian arm had applied for emergency authorisation on 4 December. The firm has already secured approval in UK and Bahrain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 December expressed his hope for an authorised vaccine in the next few weeks.
(With inputs from PTI)
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