mRNA vaccines can be made by 55 Indian drugmakers

Some 55 Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing companies may be fulfilling the technical requirements and quality standards needed to produce mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, according to a global report.

These companies can be approached for collaborations if the license holders of two approved mRNA vaccines – Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech (Nasdaq: BNTX) for Comirnaty and Moderna (Nasdaq: MRNA) for Spikevax - wish to bolster the global supply of these vaccines, adds the report.

A report by AccessIBSA and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has identified Biocon (BSE: 532523), Dr Reddy's (BSE: 500124), Reliance LifeSciences, Sun Pharma(NSE: SUNPHARMA), Zydus Cadila, Intas and Lupin (BSE: 500257), among other Indian firms which can provide the efficacious vaccine doses and booster shots.

Top vaccine expert Dr Gagandeep Kang has also urged the Indian government to figure out a way to bring mRNA vaccines to India, saying that data shows it to be the best booster shot against COVID-19. Microbiologist Dr Kang said India can also wait for its own mRNA platform-based vaccine by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals.

Progress with India’s own mRNA vaccine