NEW DELHI, June 22 (Xinhua) -- India's vaccine maker Bharat Biotech's Covaxin has shown 77.8 percent efficacy in phase III trials, multiple local media reported on Tuesday.
"Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is 77.8 percent effective in protecting against COVID-19, according to data from phase III trials conducted on 25,800 participants across India," a report said.
The efficacy rate came out on Tuesday after the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)'s subject expert committee (SEC) met and discussed the results.
The pharmaceutical firm had submitted phase III trial data for the vaccine to the DCGI over the weekend.
Reports said the company is expected to hold a "pre-submission" meeting with the World Health Organization authorities on Wednesday, to discuss guidelines for final submission of required data and documents.
India started the mass vaccination against COVID-19 on Jan. 16 by administering two made-in-India vaccines, namely Covishield and Covaxin.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) is manufacturing AstraZeneca-Oxford University's Covishield, while Bharat Biotech has partnered with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in manufacturing Covaxin.
The Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine was also rolled out in the country. Enditem
