"clinical-trial"

The ICMR has formalized a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Zydus for a Phase IIa double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of the oral tablet Desidustat for treating sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder marked by abnormal hemoglobin (Hb).

This will be followed by the clinical trial of children in the age-group of 2-6 years.

The trial will assess Covid-19 vaccines of Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, Valneva, Janssen and Curevac.

With northern hemisphere countries hit by a pandemic winter surge, Britain this week became the first Western country to roll out the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said NICED has been chosen as one among two dozen centres in the country for the third phase trial of the indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine.

The vaccine supplies for the global market will be produced by RDIF's international partners in India, Brazil, China, South Korea and other countries.

"All significant medical incidents, whether participants are in the control group or the COVID-19 vaccine group, are independently reviewed."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified 42 candidate vaccines in clinical trials, ten of which are in the most advanced "phase 3" stage.

"The trial, known as ACTIV-1 Immune Modulators, will determine if the therapeutics are able to restore balance to an overactive immune system."