News Highlights
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved COVID19 vaccine Corbevax as a COVID19 booster dose.
Focus Points
- The vaccine can be administered to adults six months after the administration of a second dose of Covaxin or Covishield for restricted use in emergency situations.
- CORBEVAX vaccine as a “heterologous” booster dose for individuals aged 18 years and above and it is the first heterologous vaccine used in India.
| Heterologous Vaccine – A heterologous booster shot involves the administration of a different vaccine from the previous one. |
About Corbevax
- Corbevax is a protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine developed by Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and Dynavax technologies based in Emeryville, California
- It is licensed to Indian biopharmaceutical firm Biological E. Limited (BioE) for development and production.
- Technology
- The vaccine consists of a version of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS‑CoV‑2 spike protein, together with the adjuvants aluminium hydroxide gel and CpG 1018.
- The protein is produced by the yeast Pichia pastoris; the process is similar to that of existing Hepatitis B vaccines.
Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
- The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is the head of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in India.
- The DCGI also establishes standards for the manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.
- The DCGI also regulates medical and pharmaceutical devices.
- In case of any dispute with respect to the quality of the drug, the DCGI is the appellate authority.
- The DCGI prepares and maintains the national reference standard for drugs.
Content Source : The Hindu