Covid-19: KIMS Gets Nod to Conduct Phase III Trial of ‘Covovax’

Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar has been granted permission for conducting Phase III clinical trial of ‘Covovax’, a vaccine against Covid-19 being prepared at Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune in collaboration with the Vaccine Giants, Novovax, USA. It has beenselected as one of the 16sites across India by ICMR-NARI(Pune).The parent vaccine by Novovax has cleared Phase I and II trials globally and proven safe and efficacious. The Indian version of the vaccine would be manufactured by SII and is now ready for Phase III testing in India.

The upgraded site for the trial was inaugurated by Maj. Gen. Dr. P. K. Patnaik, Principal, KIMS in the presence of Vice Air Marshal Dr. R. C. Dash, Vice-Principal; Dr. Ramnath Mishra, Dean R&D; Mr. Dilip Panda, Director, Administration and other senior functionaries, staff and students on November 12, 2020. This is yet another responsibility that KIMS has undertaken in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Supported by a credible track record of successful vaccine clinical trials and dependable and patient friendly infrastructure, KIMS was selected by ICMR after a detailed quality review.

KIMS’ Clinical Epidemiology Unit (CEU), under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sonali Kar (Department of Community Medicine) and guidance of Prof. Dr. Pramod Samantaray (Ex-Consultant, NIHFW & MOHFW), will begin the trial post Diwali after obtaining the requisite government and institutional clearances. The CEU is supported by a robust team of clinicians (Prof. Dr. K. P. Tripathy and Dr. Meher) and NABL accredited Lab Team (under Prof. Dr. D. Pattnaik).

The details of the vaccine study would be put up in KIMS’s official website and public domain soon after the ethical clearances.