(Image source from: thenewsmen.co.in)

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced that it will fund Rs 149 crores (19.3 million USD) to Bharat Biotech International, the University of Sydney, and Switzerland-based ExcellGene SA to develop variant proof Covid-19 vaccine. CEPI will fund the amount under the program to advance the development of the vaccines so that there would be great protection against SARS-Cov-2 variants and other viruses. The funds will help the researchers to conduct the activities like immunogen design, preclinical studies, and manufacturing process development after which the first phase of the clinical trials will commence.

CEPI CEO Richard Hatchett told "As repeated waves of COVID-19 infection remind us, we will be living alongside the virus for many years to come. The threat of a new variant emerging that might evade the protection of our current vaccines is real, so investing in R&D for variant-proof SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is a global health security imperative". He also said that their collaboration with Bharat Biotech, University of Sydney and ExcellGene will bring some advanced developments in getting a vaccine to protect against the coronavirus. Bharat Biotech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella said that the vaccines available in the market are safe but there is a need for a single vaccine that can protect against all the variants.

By Siva Kumar