The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) will meet on Wednesday, 9 December, to review applications for emergency authorisation of Serum Institute of India, Pfizer and most recently, Bharat Biotech, of their respective COVID-19 vaccines, PTI reported.
This development comes after Hyderabad-based company Bharat Biotech became the third pharmaceutical firm seeking emergency authorisation from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for Covaxin, its indigenously produced COVID-19 vaccine.
A source informed, “DCGI has already started processing the applications. The subject expert committee (SEC) on COVID-19 at CDSCO will deliberate on the applications by Pfizer, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech seeking emergency use authorisation for their COVID-19 vaccines on 9 December.”
Serum Institute of India had sought the DCGI’s approval for its Oxford COVID-19 vaccine on 6 December.
Earlier, global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s Indian arm had applied for emergency authorisation on 4 December. The firm has already secured approval in UK and Bahrain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 December expressed his hope for an authorised vaccine in the next few weeks.
(With inputs from PTI)
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