The Department of Biotechnology has so far received 13 proposals for diagnostics, therapeutics and other interventions to fight pandemic. DBT has shortlisted three companies to fund for vaccine development, said a statement

The Department of Biotechnology and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council had invited applications on the COVID-19 Research Consortium. The first phase of the call ended on March 30 and around 500 applications were received from academia and industry, the DBT said in a statement.

Both repurposing of existing vaccine companies for immediate protection of high-risk groups and novel vaccine candidate development were considered while selecting proposals under this call.

“Funding support has been recommended to Cadila Healthcare Ltd for advancing the development of a DNA Vaccine candidate against novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and to Bharat Biotech International Ltd. for COVID-19 vaccine candidate utilising the inactivated rabies vector platform.”

For the Phase III human clinical trials study of recombinant BCG vaccine planned in high-risk populations, Serum Institute of India Private Limited (SIIPL) will be supported,” the statement said.

It also added that development of a novel vaccine evaluation platform at National Institute of Immunology, an institute under DBT, to support SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development has also been approved for financial support.