Bhubaneswar: The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday granted Serum Institute of India (SII) the permission to manufacture Russian COVID Vaccine- Sputnik V for examination test and analysis at its licensed facility at Hadapsar, ANI quoted sources as saying.
As per reports, earlier on Thursday the Pune-based firm had applied to the DCGI seeking permission to manufacture Sputnik V for examination, test and analysis.
According to sources, SII has collaborated with the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow for developing Sputnik V at its Hadapsar facility.
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On May 18, the SII had also applied to the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), Department of Biotechnology seeking clearance for the import of strains or seed lots and cell banks and for carrying out research and development, the sources added.
SII CEO Thanks Joe Biden, Jaishankar For Policy Change To Boost COVID Vaccine Production
Earlier today, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla thanked US President Joe Biden and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for a policy change that will boost the production of COVID-19 vaccines in India and globally.
Confident of the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the US, the Biden administration has removed Defense Production Act priority ratings on AstraZeneca, Novavax and Sanofi vaccines.
While the firms will continue to make these three vaccines, this action will allow US-based companies that supply these vaccine manufacturers to make their own decisions on which orders to fulfil first.
Sharing the link of a press briefing by White House COVID-19 response team and public health officials, Poonawalla said, "Thanks to the efforts of @POTUS, @WhiteHouse, & @DrSJaishankar, this policy change will hopefully increase the supply of raw materials globally and to India; boosting our vaccine production capacity and strengthening our united fight against this pandemic."
Earlier in April, Poonawalla had tweeted, "Respected @POTUS, if we are to truly unite in beating this virus, on behalf of the vaccine industry outside the U.S., I humbly request you to lift the embargo of raw material exports out of the U.S. so that vaccine production can ramp up. Your administration has the details".
(With Inputs From PTI)