News Analysis India

Tag: Adar Poonawalla

  • ‘A new milestone’: Serum Institute begins Covovax production in Pune, jab likely from September

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Serum Institute of India has started the production of Covovax, its own version of US-based Novavax’s Covid vaccine, which has shown the efficacy of over 90% in a recently concluded phase 3 trial. 

    In India, this vaccine — whose 20 crore doses have been projected to be available between August and December — is undergoing a bridging trial and is set to also be tested on kids starting next month. 

    “A new milestone has been reached; this week we began our first batch of Covovax (a Covid vaccine developed by Novavax) at our facility, here in Pune,” said SII in a tweet on Friday. Its CEO Adar Poonawalla had earlier said that a ban on raw materials required for the vaccines by the US was set to impact vaccine manufacturing.

    The Joe Biden administration in the US, however, had subsequently lifted the ban. 

    Meanwhile, as part of phase 2 and 3, observer-blind, randomized, controlled bridging study on 1,600 adults across 20 sites including AIIMS, Delhi, and Gorakhpur, studies are underway to determine the safety and immunogenicity of this protein-based vaccine in the Indian population.  

    ALSO READ | 48 Delta Plus Covid variant cases detected in India; Maharashtra records highest: Government

    Earlier this month, Novavax had said that the vaccine has an efficacy of 90.4% in preventing infection and 100% efficacy against moderate to severe disease while announcing results from its late-stage trials. The company had said in a statement that its recombinant nanoparticle protein-based vaccine was tested in nearly 30,000 volunteers between January-April in the US and Mexico and significantly, also included nearly 44%, non-white participants. 

    The two doses of the vaccine are administered 21 days apart and its efficacy results have since been compared to the coronavirus vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna, like the phase 3 trials of this vaccine conducted later meant that it was pitted against more aggressive variants of Covid virus. 

    Following the declaration of the phase 3 trials, senior authorities in the Indian government had said that the vaccine data in a large trial are “promising”, adding that the bridging trials in the country are also in an advanced stage of completion. 

    “What we’re learning from data available in the public domain is that this vaccine is very safe and highly effective. It’ll be produced in India,” VK Paul, member, health, Niti Aayog, and chairman of the national Covid19 task force had said.    

    Sources in the company, meanwhile, told The New Indian Express that it is looking at a September timeline to launch the vaccine in India to aid the country’s ongoing Covid vaccination drive.

    “Also, since a need has been felt to prepare Covid vaccines for kids in case of major outbreaks in future, we are keen to study whether the vaccine is equally safe and effective for the children,” a senior executive said, adding that a trial design is being worked out which will then be submitted to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for approval.

  • Would provide security to SII CEO Adar Poonawalla if he asks: Maharashtra government to HC

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Friday told the Bombay High Court that it would provide security to Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII) which manufacturers the Covishield vaccine against COVID-19, if he makes a request.

    After the government’s statement, the court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation seeking better protection for the Pune-based industrialist.

    The Union government has already provided `Y’ category CRPF protection to Poonawalla.

    The HC was hearing a petition filed by advocate Datta Mane, seeking a direction to the Union and State governments to provide ‘Z-plus’ security to Poonawalla after he reportedly said that he was receiving threats over the supply of vaccine.

    Public prosecutor Deepak Thakare told a division bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar that if Poonawalla sought protection, the state government would provide him adequate security.

    “We cannot keep entertaining such petitions. In view of the statement made by the prosecutor, we are of the view that this petition can be disposed of,” the court said.

    The bench also noted that the petitioner was seeking protection for a person who may not even be aware of the plea.

    “These are personal matters. What if he (Poonawalla) says that he does not want protection or he is not afraid. We cannot go behind the back of people and pass orders,” the court said.

  • Poonawalla thanks Biden, Jaishankar for policy change to boost vaccine production

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Friday thanked US President Joe Biden and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for a policy change that will boost the production of COVID-19 vaccines in India and globally.

    Confident of the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the US, the Biden administration has removed Defense Production Act priority ratings on AstraZeneca, Novavax and Sanofi vaccines.

    While the firms will continue to make these three vaccines, this action will allow US-based companies that supply these vaccine manufacturers to make their own decisions on which orders to fulfil first.

    Sharing the link of a press briefing by White House COVID-19 response team and public health officials, Poonawalla said, “Thanks to the efforts of @POTUS, @WhiteHouse, & @DrSJaishankar, this policy change will hopefully increase the supply of raw materials globally and to India; boosting our vaccine production capacity and strengthening our united fight against this pandemic.”

    Earlier in April, Poonawalla had tweeted, “Respected @POTUS, if we are to truly unite in beating this virus, on behalf of the vaccine industry outside the U.S., I humbly request you to lift the embargo of raw material exports out of the U.S. so that vaccine production can ramp up. Your administration has the details”.

  • Will be able to manufacture, supply 10 crore Covishield doses in June: Serum Institute to Centre 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Serum Institute of India (SII) has informed the government that it will be able to manufacture and supply nine to 10 crore doses of Covishield in June, official sources said on Sunday amid complaint by states about the shortage of anti-coronavirus vaccine jabs.

    In a recent letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, SII said its employees have been working round the clock in spite of various challenges because of the pandemic.

    “We are pleased to inform that in the month of June we will be able to manufacture and supply nine to 10 crore doses of our Covishield vaccine to the country as compared to our production capacity of 6.5 crore doses in May,” Prakash Kumar Singh, the Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at SII, said in the letter.

    Singh also thanked Shah for his “valuable guidance and continuous support” at various stages of their endeavour to make India ‘aatmanirbhar’ (self-sufficient) in COVID-19 vaccines and making it available for the people of the country.

    “Serum Institute of India has always been sincerely concerned about the protection of the citizens of our country and world at large from COVID-19. Under the leadership of our CEO, Adar C Poonawalla, our team have been working relentlessly shoulder to shoulder with our government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in the letter.

    “We assure you that with the support of the Government of India and under your kind guidance, we are trying our best by utilizing all of our resources to increase our production capacity of Covishield in the coming month also.

    ” In early May, SII had communicated to the Centre that production of Covishield would be ramped up to 6.5 crore in June, seven crore in July and 10 crore each in August and September.

    India is currently using made-in-India vaccines — Covishield manufactured by SII and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech — in its COVID-19 immunisation programme.

    The Russian Sputnik V is the third vaccine to get approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use and is being used in a few private hospitals.

  • HC seeks Uddhav government’s reply on plea seeking Z-plus security for Adar Poonawalla

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to respond to a petition filed by an advocate seeking Z-plus security for Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII) which manufactures the Covishield vaccine against COVID-19.

    The petitioner will have to bear in mind while arguing this matter that “India has a good reputation and such proceedings will have an international impact”, the HC said.

    A vacation bench of Justices S S Shinde and N R Borkar noted that Poonawalla was doing a great service to the nation.

    The Union government has already granted ‘Y’ category security to the Pune-based industrialist.

    The bench said, “He (Poonwalla) is doing a good job. As per our knowledge, he has been given Y-Plus security already. The petitioner is seeking Z-plus security. If it is necessary then the state will give (more security).”

    The HC directed the government to respond to the plea, filed earlier this month by advocate Datta Mane.

    It posted the petition for further hearing on June 1.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute disassociates itself from its executive’s remarks on Covid vaccination drive 

    Mane in his petition had also sought a direction to police to register an FIR and carry out a probe into the alleged threat to Poonawalla over the supply of vaccine.

    If vaccine makers feel unsafe, it could affect the vaccine production, the petition had said.

    It said Poonwalla and his family left India and went to London due to the threats they had been receiving.

    Poonawalla had said in a recent interview to The Times that he has been receiving threats and pressure from ‘powerful people’ seeking vaccine doses on priority.

    The bench on Thursday also sought to know what locus (standing) did Mane have in filing the petition.

    To this, Mane’s advocate Pradeep Havnur said any person can set the criminal law in motion.

    The court noted that Poonawalla’s father in an interview said he has gone to London for a break.

    “The petitioner will have to bear in mind while arguing this matter that India has a good reputation and such proceedings will have an international impact,” the HC said.

  • Covishield vaccine supply for Maharashtra unlikely to start from May 20, state to approach Serum Institute

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Even as the Maharashtra government had earlier said that the state would start getting Covishield vaccine doses May 20 onwards, that possibility appears to be dim as minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said they would come to know about the supply once SII CEO Adar Poonawalla returns to India from abroad.

    On May 13, Tope had said that the Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO had promised Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that 1.5 crore Covishield doses would be given to the state after May 20.

    When asked about it on Wednesday, Tope, the state Health Minister, said, “Once Poonawalla returns to India, we will come to know about the the availability of the vaccines.”

    The state government has some five lakh vials of Covishield and Covaxin, which is going to be used for completion of second dose as well as first dose of people in above 45 age group, he said.

    The government has also floated a global tender for vaccine procurement, which will remain open till May 25, the minister said.

    However, some of the approvals for procurement of vials need the Centre’s approval, he added.

    “Maharashtra has administered some 2.02 crore doses to people so far, which is the highest in the country. Various measures taken by the state to minimise the infection has resulted into the growth rate being 0.5 per cent. Among 36 states in the country, Maharashtra is at the 34th position (in terms of COVID-19 growth),” he said.

    The states recovery rate is above 90 per cent now, Tope added.

    When asked about recruitment in the health department, the minister said, “The state will finalise the recruitment agency in the next 4-5 days. We will expedite the procedure of recruitment. I have also held meetings with other state departments concerned such as general administration to fill the vacancies by promotion.”

    “Some posts have be filled throuogh promotions and the state government is expediting the process. We are trying to complete the entire exercise within the next two months,” he said.

    According to Tope, the state-run hospitals and medical colleges will have 100 per cent staff once the recruitment drive is over.

  • Plea in Bombay HC seeks Z-plus security for Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla, his family

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: A writ petition on Wednesday has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking Z plus security for Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla and his family. The petitioner has said Poonawalla should be given Z plus security for himself and his family, and his assets should be protected keeping the threats which were made to Poonawallah as per media reports.

    The plea requested the court to give order to Maharashtra government and Pune Police Commissioner to file an FIR in the matter based on the petitioner’s complaint which he has already submitted.

    He also requested that by the time the order on his petition comes, Poonawalla and his family should be given ample police protection and there should be police deployment at Serum institute and other properties of Poonawalla.

    On May 2, in an interview to a London newspaper, Poonawalla had complained of receiving threats from politicians and “powerful men” demanding quick delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine that his firm has been producing.

    Poonawalla had also complained of being “vilified and blamed”, and hinted at starting a new vaccine production unit in the United Kingdom. He had said he had received calls from “some of the most powerful men in India”, including “Chief Ministers, heads of business conglomerates and others”.

  • File complaint about threats: Maharashtra govt tells Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: A Maharashtra minister on Monday said Serum Institute of India’s CEO Adar Poonawalla should lodge a police complaint in connection with the alleged threats that he has received, and assured the state government will conduct an in-depth probe into it.

    Poonawalla, who has been in the UK on extended stay to evade alleged threats in India over the ever-increasing demand for COVID-19 vaccines, has said he will return in a few days.

    In a recent interview to ‘The Times’, Poonawalla alleged that he had been receiving threats in India and that he and his family left the country for London after unprecedented “pressure and aggression” over the demand of COVID-19 vaccines.

    The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) is producing ‘Covishield’ – the Oxford/AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.

    “Poonawalla should lodge a complaint giving details of threat and the phone number from where he got the call.

    We will conduct an in-depth probe into it,” Minister of State Home Shamburaje Desai told reporters.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole urged Poonawalla to return to India and assured that his party will take the responsibility of his security.

    ALSO WATCH:

    “People’s lives are important and the vaccine production should take place in India only. The Centre has already given him ‘Y’ category security. More (security) would be given if necessary,” he said.

    The Congress will also take the responsibility of protecting him, said Patole, whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and NCP.

    “No one will touch him. He should return and work on vaccine production,” the Congress leader said.

    However, NCP leader and state Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik claimed Poonawalla was responsible for the present situation he is in and that no one was defaming him.

    “First, he announces Rs 150 price (per dose of Covishield vaccine) for the central government, Rs 400 for states and Rs 700 for private hospitals.

    Later, through a tweet he informed that he was reducing the price for states from Rs 400 to Rs 300,” Malik said.

    This has created suspicion and there are lot of questions in the minds of the people, the minister said.

    Earlier, NCP leader and Maharashtra Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad said the country needs to know the truth behind the alleged threats to Poonawalla.

  • Will return to India in a few days, says Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has said he will return to India from London in a few days.

    Poonawalla made the announcement soon after he spoke out about the pressures he was under over the production of COVID-19 vaccines to meet the ever-increasing demand in India as the country battles through a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

    “Had an excellent meeting with all our partners & stakeholders in the U.K. Meanwhile, pleased to state that COVISHIELD’s production is in full swing in Pune. I look forward to reviewing operations upon my return in a few days,” Poonawalla said in a midnight tweet.

    In his first comments since he was provided with ‘Y’ category security by the Indian government earlier this week, Poonawalla had told ‘The Times’ in an interview about receiving aggressive calls from some of the most powerful people in India, demanding supplies of Covishield — the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that the Serum Institute is producing in India.

    That pressure was largely behind his decision to fly into London to be with his wife and children, the 40-year-old entrepreneur had said in the interview on Saturday.

    “I’m staying here (London) for an extended time because I don’t want to go back to that situation. Everything falls on my shoulders but I can’t do it alone. I don’t want to be in a situation where you are just trying to do your job, and just because you can’t supply the needs of X, Y or Z you really don’t want to guess what they are going to do,” Poonawalla had told the newspaper.

    According to Indian government officials, the protection to Poonawalla has been given in view of “potential threats” to him.

    Armed commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be with him every time he travels to any part of the country, they said and added that the ‘Y’ security cover will entail a posse of about 4-5 armed commandos.

    “The level of expectation and aggression is really unprecedented. It’s overwhelming. Everyone feels they should get the vaccine. They can’t understand why anyone else should get it before them,” Poonawalla had said.

    The businessman had indicated in the interview that his move to London is also linked to business plans to expand vaccine manufacturing to countries outside India, which may include the likes of the UK.

    “There’s going to be an announcement in the next few days,” he had said when asked about Britain as one of the production bases outside India.

    According to the newspaper, by the time the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was approved in January this year, the Serum Institute of India (SII) had increased its annual production capacity from 1.5 to 2.5 billion doses at a cost of USD 800 million, and stockpiled 50 million doses of Covishield.

    The company began exporting to 68 countries, including Britain, as India seemed to have been over the worse, until the situation worsened in recent weeks.

    “We’re really grasping for all the help we can get,” Poonawalla had said in the ‘Times’ interview. “I don’t think even God could have forecast it was going to get this bad,” he had said.

    India’s daily coronavirus tally crossed the grim milestone of four lakh, while the death toll rose to 2,11,853 with 3,523 fresh fatalities, according to date updated by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

    The infection tally rose to 1,91,64,969 with 4,01,993 new cases, while the active cases crossed the 32-lakh mark, the data updated at 8 am on Saturday showed.

    Registering a steady increase, the active cases stood at 32,68,710, accounting for 17.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate further dropped to 81.84 per cent.

  • Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla gets ‘Y’ category security cover from CRPF

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Serum Institute of India’s CEO Adar Poonawalla has been accorded ‘Y’ category security across India by the CRPF in view of “potential threats” to the businessman, involved in the production of one of the COVID-19 vaccines in India, the Union government officials said on Wednesday.

    The Central government decision came after Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), Prakash Kumar Singh had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 16 requesting security for Poonawalla.

    According to officials, the protection has been given in view of “potential threats” to Poonawalla.

    Armed commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be with him every time he travels to any part of the country, they said and added that the ‘Y’ security cover will entail a posse of about 4-5 armed commandos with him.

    Covishield, one of the two COVID-19 vaccines used in India’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, is being manufactured by SII.

    The other vaccine being used in the country is Covaxin made by Bharat Biotech.

    In this letter, Singh had stated that Poonawalla has been getting threats from various groups regarding the COVID-19 vaccine supplies.

    In this letter, Singh also said, “we are working shoulder to shoulder to fight against COVID-19 pandemic with the Government of India under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji.”