Bharat Biotech's Covaxin succeeds in challenge trials on Rhesus monkeys

The results showed protective efficacacy, increasing Sars-CoV-2 specific IgG and neutralising antibodies reducing the replication of the virus in the nasal cavity, throat and lung tissues of monkey

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has released the data from the animal trials of its vaccine candidate, which showed that Covaxin was able to generate 'robust immune responses'. 

The firm said that the vaccine prevented infection and disease in the primates upon high amounts of exposure to live virus Sars-CoV-2. This is called a challenge trial where a participant is exposed deliberately to the pathogen after being given the vaccine shot. 

The company tweeted "Bharat Biotech proudly announces the animal study results of Covaxin–-these results demonstrate the protective efficacy in a live viral challenge model." 

The indigenously-developed vaccine by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council