GEMCOVAC-OM® – Omicron-specific mRNA-based booster vaccine
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology recently launched the Omicron-specific mRNA-based booster vaccine “GEMCOVAC-OM®”.
India’s first mRNA vaccine has been develope by Gennova using indigenous platform technology. The vaccine developed with funding from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). A few days ago, this vaccine was approve for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Office of the Drug Control General of India (DCGI).
Union Minister Dr. Singh said on the occasion that I am very proud of the Department of Biotechnology for fulfilling its mission. Technology-led entrepreneurship has been enable by creation of this indigenous mRNA-platform technology. He said that we have always supported technology driven innovation towards building a ‘future ready technology platform’ in line with the Atma-Nirbhar vision of the Prime Minister.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the ‘future-ready’ technology platform can be use to make other vaccines in a relatively short development time frame. Steady investments made by the Government of India have created a strong entrepreneurial as well as startup ecosystem. This ecosystem has really facilitated our response against the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccines under Atmanirbhar India 3.0
Prior to GEMCOVAC-OM®, 4 vaccines developed under the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 package for rapid development of India’s COVID-19 vaccines with the support of Mission COVID Suraksha implemented by DBT and BIRAC.
Mission Covid Suraksha has shown major achievements within a year of implementation. These include the development of the world’s first DNA vaccine for COVID-19, the country’s first mRNA vaccine and intranasal vaccine candidates and a subunit vaccine against COVID-19.
The following major initiatives are currently being implemented as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 to promote basic and translational vaccine research:
- Indo-US Vaccine Action Program
- National Biopharma Mission
- Ind-CEPI Mission
- Mission Covid Suraksha
About GEMCOVAC-OM®
It is a thermostable vaccine. Other approvals for GEMCOVAC-OM® do not require the ultra-cold chain infrastructure used for mRNA-based vaccines. This vaccine can also be applied without needle injection. The GEMCOVAC-OM® vaccine delivered intra-dermally using a needle-free injection device system.
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