Bharat Biotech’s vaccine, Covaxin, has shown long-term antibody and T-cell memory responses three months after the shot was administered to...
Bharat Biotech’s vaccine, Covaxin, has shown long-term antibody and T-cell memory responses three months after the shot was administered to phase 1 trial volunteers, PTI reported, citing a research paper published by the Hyderabad-based firm. The results, however, have not been peer-reviewed yet.
T-cells, a type of white blood cell that makes up part of a healthy immune system, are thought to be essential to protect against infection from the SARS-CoV-2, and could provide longer immunity than antibodies. Bharat Biotech said that its indigenous vaccine may persist for six to 12 months. It added that in Phase 2 trials the vaccine was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events. Covaxin also showed enhanced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in Phase 2.
The company said that a total of 380 healthy children and adults were administered two vaccine formulations in as many doses (four weeks apart) in a double-blind phase 2 trials. In a double-blind clinical trial, a gold standard for testing new medicines or vaccines, neither the company nor the participants know who receives vaccines and who gets placebos, which maybe a similar-looking injection having no medical effect. Only an independent review board has access to that information.
In a follow-up of the Phase 1 trials, Covaxin produced...
