By IANS,
New Delhi : India would be able to indigenously develop swine flu vaccine by June next year, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told parliament Tuesday.
“Three companies are working towards developing indigenous vaccine for the swine flu and it is expected that clinical trials would start in January 2010. If all goes well, indigenous vaccine would be available by June 2010,” Azad said.
In India, three pharmaceutical companies – Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech, and Panacea Biotech – are working on developing the vaccine.
Azad said that to cover the interim period, the government is importing pandemic vaccine to vaccinate the high risk group.
“We have procured 40 million capsules and 400,000 bottles of oseltamivir, the drug used to treat swine flu. Restricted sale of the drug is allowed through retail outlets,” said Azad.