Serum Institute’s pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine gets DCGI approval

This is the first indigenously developed vaccine in the field of pneumonia

Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the first fully indigenously developed Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate vaccine. This vaccine has been developed by Serum Institute of India, Pune. Serum Institute first obtained the approval of DCGI to conduct Phase I, Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine in India. These trials have since been concluded within the country. The said company has also conducted these clinical trials in another country i.e. Gambia. 

 Thereafter, the said company applied for approval and permission to manufacture this vaccine. The application along with the clinical trial data has been reviewed by the Office of DCGI with the help of the Special Expert Committee (SEC) for vaccines. The Committee recommended for grant of permission of market authorisation to the said vaccine. On 14/07/2020, Serum Institute of India, Pune has been granted permission to manufacture domestically developed first pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine. This is the first indigenously developed vaccine in the field of pneumonia. Earlier the demand of such vaccine was substantially met by licensed importers in the country since the manufacturers were all vaccine companies based outside India.

 This vaccine is used for active immunisation against invasive disease and pneumonia caused by “Streptococcus pneumonia” in infants. The vaccine is administered intramuscularly.