Indian pharmaceutical company Zydus has started human studies for its potential COVID-19 vaccine, as coronavirus infections continue to surge in the world’s third worst-hit nation. In the human trials, Zydus will enrol over 1,000 subjects across multiple clinical study sites in India. ZyCoV-D, its plasmid DNA vaccine, was found to be safe, immunogenic and well-tolerated in the pre-clinical toxicity studies.
Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020
DNA vaccines
DNA vaccines are third generation vaccines that contains the DNA codes for specific proteins (antigens) from a pathogen.
DNA vaccination is a technique for protecting against disease by injection with genetically engineered plasmid containing the DNA sequence encoding the antigen(s) against which an immune response is sought, so cells directly produce the antigen, causing a protective immunological response.
DNA vaccines have potential advantages over conventional vaccines, including the ability to induce a wider range of immune response types.
Zydus Cadila
Zydus Cadila is 4th ranks Indian pharmaceutical industry headquartered in Ahmedabad, India.
The group has manufacturing sites and research facilities spread across five states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim in India and in the US and Brazil.
As one of the key players amongst the pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, the group has manufacturing capabilities across the entire pharmaceutical value chain: including formulations, APIs, vaccines, biosimilars, complex products (transdermals, topical etc.), animal health products and wellness products.
