DBT-backed Epygen to start trials on Covid vaccine below Rs 150 a shot

Indian biopharma company to initiate Phase-I and Phase-II trials, plans fundraise of Rs 200 crore of funding for third phase of trials

Epygen Biotech, an Indian biopharmaceutical company engaged in research and manufacturing therapeutic proteins, has received funding from the Department of Biotechnology to initiate the Phase I and Phase II trials of an indigenous affordable Receptor Binding Domain (RBD based vaccine) against present and future SARS-CoV–2 variants.

With an anticipated price point of less than Rs 150 per dose, the company said it will be able to adopt the highly productive C1-cell protein production platform, which has been demonstrated by scientists at the European Union Zoonotic Anticipation and Preparedness Initiative (ZAPI) program.

The Covid vaccine will be made available to the