India Approves World’s 1st DNA-Based Covid Vaccine

The world’s first DNA-based covid vaccine, Zydus Cadila’s three-dose indigenous Covid-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D, can be administered to people aged 12 and above. The vaccine received emergency use authorization (EUA) in India on Friday. nd the EUA has been granted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation’s (CDSO) Subject Expert Committee (SEC).

The Science and Technology Ministry statement said: “Zydus Cadila has received approval for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for ZyCoV-D today.”

The first-of-its-kind DNA vaccine, ZyCoV-D produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 to educe or elicit an immune response. It is an intradermal vaccine that has to be applied using a ‘needle-free injector’, which is said to have fewer side effects.

The vaccine has been developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology, under ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’ and implemented by the BIRAC. It has been supported under Covid-19 Research Consortia through National Biopharma Mission for Preclinical Studies, Phase 1 and Phase 2 Clinical Trials, and under the Mission COVID Suraksha for Phase 3 Clinical Trial.

After injecting this 3-dose vaccine, it produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and plays a vital role in protection from disease as well as viral clearance. The company said it plans to manufacture 100 million to 120 million doses of ZyCoV-D annually and has started to stockpile the vaccine.

It was reported that the vaccine has been effective in July against the new coronavirus mutants, especially the Delta variant, and the shot is administered using a needle-free applicator.