Amid ongoing research around the world to develop nasal sprays to help prevent coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Bharat Biotech’s intranasal vaccine has received regulatory approval for Phase 2/3 trials. The adenoviral intranasal vaccine BBV154 is the first of its kind Covid-19 jab to undergo human trials in India. The Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers of age groups ranging from 18 to 60 years was well tolerated, pursuant to the ministry of science and technology.
The development of Bharat Biotech’s intranasal vaccine has been supported by the department of biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). They strategized to fast-track research and development efforts, especially for vaccine development, diagnostics, drug repurposing, therapeutics and testing.
Bharat Biotech's Covaxin had shown 77.8% efficacy against symptomatic Covid-19 and 93.4% against severe illness during the Phase 3 clinical trials.