Wait for Bharat's COVID-19 vaccine data continues

India's Bharat Biotech has recently completed the Phase III trials of its COVID-19 intranasal vaccine BBV154 and submitted the data to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for approval both as a primary two-dose vaccine, and a heterologous booster dose. However, the company has not yet made clinical trial results publicly available.

BBV154 could be the second approved intranasal vaccine for COVID-19 in the world. Based on the novel adenovirus vector, BBV154 is an intranasal vaccine for COVID-19 which stimulates a broad immune response neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses, he said. Most importantly, it is effective for blocking both infection and transmission of the novel coronavirus.

In April 2022, the Russian Health Ministry approved Sputnik V nasal vaccine, before which it was only available as an intramuscular injection.