Will supply 1 crore doses of COVID vaccine to Govt.: Zydus Cadila

ZyCoV-D, the world’s first plasmid DNA vaccine, will be administered using a needle-free applicator

Drug firm Zydus Cadila on Monday said it had received an order to supply one crore doses of its COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D to the Government of India at ₹265 per dose.

“Zydus Cadila has received an order to supply one crore doses of ZyCoV-D, the world’s first plasmid DNA vaccine, to the Government of India at ₹265 per dose and the needle-free applicator being offered at ₹93 per dose, excluding GST,” the pharma firm said in a regulatory filing. The pricing has been decided in consultation with the Central Government, it added.

The vaccine will be administered using a needle-free applicator as opposed to traditional syringes. The applicator is called ‘PharmaJet’.

Also Watch:ZyCov-D: World's first DNA vaccine, made in India

Painless delivery

The PharmaJet is a needle-free applicator to ensure painless intradermal vaccine delivery which also leads to a significant reduction in major side effects.

“We are happy to support the Government’s vaccination programme with ZyCoV-D. The needle-free application of the vaccination, we hope, will motivate many more to vaccinate and safeguard themselves from COVID-19, especially children and young adults in the age group of 12 to 18,” Zydus Cadila Managing Director Sharvil Patel said.

ZyCoV-D is the first DNA plasmid vaccine in the world for human use, developed indigenously by the company against the COVID-19 virus, Zydus Cadila said.

The vaccine has shown good stability at temperatures of around 25 degrees for at least three months. The thermo stability of the vaccine will help in easy transportation and storage of the vaccine without any problems of fluctuations in temperature, it added.

ZyCoV-D is the first vaccine cleared by India’s drug regulator for inoculation of those aged 12 years and above.

Three doses of ZyCoV-D are to be administered 28 days apart. The vaccine was given emergency use authorisation (EUA) by the Indian drug regulator on August 20 this year.

The company has also sought approval for the two dose regimen of the vaccine.