The Tata Group’s healthcare subsidiary, Tata Medical and Diagnostics, is reportedly in early talks with Moderna, an American biotechnology firm, to introduce an anti-coronavirus vaccine in India. It is worth noting that the Tata Group launched a Covid-19 test kit in November last year, giving results in less than an hour and as accurate as the RT-PCR process. Kicke, India, on January 16,
In order to conduct clinical trials of Moderna’s vaccine candidate in India, officials with knowledge of the matter told ET, Tata is likely to join hands with the Council of Science & Industrial Research (CSIR), India’s premier research organization.
It is worth mentioning here that, before rolling out their goods, international vaccine manufacturers must perform a bridging test on the Indian population in the region. More significantly, if the vaccines are licensed abroad, international companies are expected to perform phase 3 trials in India with volunteers.
In January 2020, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), part of the World Health Organisation’s COVAX facility, provided Moderna with funds to improve its coronavirus mRNA vaccine. Moreover, by the end of 2021, the COVAX facility would like to equitably distribute 200 crore Covid-19 vaccines in low and middle-income countries, including India.
Unnamed officials were quoted by the financial daily as saying that initial discussions have begun between Tata Medical & Diagnostics and Moderna, and any clear arrangements will be finalized once the Centre gives the green signal to the involvement of the private sector.
In June 2020, Tata Medical & Diagnostics was founded in the midst of the coronavirus crisis by the Mumbai-based coffee-to-cars conglomerate and is ready to join the country’s Covid-19-led health requirements in the space of devices and formulations.
“The requirement for vaccines in India will be huge and the Tata Group has a strong brand equity in the country to gain people’s trust and confidence by following approved guidelines for vaccines,” a top group told the publication.
