(Riya Saha, Intern Journalist)Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SAI) has tied up with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to expedite the process of manufacture and delivery of up to 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines for India and other third world countries, SII issued in its statement.
“I would like to thank @BillGates, @gatesfoundation, and @GaviSeth for this key partnership of risk-sharing and manufacturing of 100 million doses, which will also ensure equitable access at an affordable price to many countries around the world,” Adar Poonawalla, CEO and Owner, Serum Institute of India informed via twitter on Friday.
The country’s drug regulator—the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier granted permission to the Serum Institute to conduct phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials on the potential vaccine for the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, via its Strategic Investment Fund, will provide at-risk funding of USD 150 million to Gavi, which will then be utilized to support the Serum Institute to manufacture the potential vaccine candidate. The potential Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by SII is likely to be made available to at least 92 countries.
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