Context: Recently, India has started phase I/II clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine - ZyCoV-D, designed and developed by Zydus (a pharmaceutical company) with support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

• The Vaccine Discovery Programme supported by the Department of Biotechnology under the National Biopharma Mission, implemented by BIRAC moves into clinical trial.
• The other indigenously developed vaccine - Covaxin - produced by Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech is also underway to start clinical trials.

About COVID 19 Vaccine ZyCoV-D

• It is a plasmid DNA vaccine designed and developed by Zydus and partially funded by the Department of Biotechnology.
• It is the first indigenously developed vaccine for COVID-19 to be administered in humans in India.
• In the pre-clinical phase, the vaccine was found to elicit a strong immune response in multiple animal species like mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits.
• The antibodies produced by the vaccine were able to neutralize the wild type virus in virus neutralization assay indicating the protective potential of the vaccine candidate.

About National Biopharma Mission

• It is the Industry-Academia Collaborative Mission of Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Its aim is to accelerate discovery research to early development for Biopharmaceuticals approved by the Cabinet.
• It is being implemented at Biotechnology Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
• It is dedicated to deliver affordable products to the nation with an aim to improve the health standards of India’s population.

About Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

• It is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, setup by Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• It is an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.
• It is a industry-academia interface and implements its mandate through a wide range of impact initiatives.