Pune-Based Serum India Will Start COVID-19 Vaccine Production In 3 Weeks

Pune-based Serum India Institute is the largest vaccine producer by the number of doses in the world. The institute is known for developing innovative yet affordable methods to produce dengue monoclonal, pneumonia vaccines, among others.

Serum India has made an announcement, stating that they will be in charge of manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine is currently on human trials at Oxford University, the UK. Serum India will begin its own trials, starting from May after receiving necessary regulatory approvals.

The CEO of the institute said that the trials would involve a few hundred patients. The vaccine is expected to come out by September or October if the trials prove to be successful.

He also stated that the vaccines would be made affordable. The institute plans to release the vaccine at around Rs 1,000. Serum Institute is known to offer significantly cheaper vaccines compared to the ones being sold globally. For example, its MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) is distributed at a price that is 10 times lower than what is available worldwide.

The CEO has also confirmed that it wouldn’t wait until the trials finish in September then start with the production. Instead, they will start manufacturing the vaccine beforehand at its own risk and cost. By doing this, if the clinal trials are successful, there will be enough doses.

The company’s goal is to produce four to five million doses of vaccines each month in the first six months. After that, they might scale up the production to 10 million doses monthly. By September-October, Serum Institute is planning to produce 20 to 40 million doses. By doing this, the product will be available in other countries as well.

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