All About Zydus Cadila's DNA Covid Vaccine ZyCoV-D
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Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila is awaiting regulatory approval for emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D.
Source: Zydus Cadila
The interim results of the Phase III of ZyCoV-D clinical trials, covering over 28,000 volunteers in more than 50 sites across India, have been submitted to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
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Once approved, ZyCoV-D would become the fifth Covid vaccine authorised in India. The other 4 are: AstraZeneca's Covishield, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, Gamaleya Institute's Sputnik V and Moderna's Covid vaccine.
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ZyCoV-D is the second indigenous jab after Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
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ZyCoV-D uses a needle free applicator and is administered in a painless manner.
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Instead of using an injection, ZyCoV-D is applied using The PharmaJet needle free system, Tropis. The technology uses a single-use, sterile, disposable syringe with a reusable injector.
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A needle free syringe is filed with vaccine and loaded to the injector. It's an intradermal injection which means it only goes into the skin unlike large needles that are given in the muscles.
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ZyCoV-D is a three-dose vaccine that will need to be administered on day 0, day 28, and day 56.
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ZyCov-D will be available to children, once approved, as the trials have found it to be safe for all those aged above 12.
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ZyCoV-D needs to be stored at 2-8 degree Celsius but has shown good stability at temperatures of 25 degree Celsius for at least three months.
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ZyCov-D is a ?plasmid DNA? vaccine ? or a vaccine that uses a genetically engineered version of a type of DNA molecule known as a ?plasmid'.
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When administered, ZyCoV-D produces the spike protein similar to that of coronavirus. The spike proteins elicit a response from the immune system, which play a vital role in protection from the disease.
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The Plasmid DNA platform used by ZyCoV-D allows generating new constructs quickly to deal with mutations in the virus.
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The plasmid DNA platform provides ease of manufacturing with minimal biosafety requirements.
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Zydus Cadila is planning to manufacture 10-12 crore doses of the vaccine annually.
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