Momentous feat: PM Modi after world's first DNA based anti-COVID-19 vaccine ZyCov-D gets nod

The Prime Minister tweeted, "India is fighting COVID-19 with full vigour. The approval for world’s first DNA based ‘ZyCov-D’ vaccine of @ZydusUniverse is a testimony to the innovative zeal of India’s scientists. A momentous feat indeed."

Zydus Cadila Friday received approval for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of its COVID-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D, from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to be administered on children and adults 12 years and above.

Developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India under the ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’ and implemented by BIRAC, ZyCoV-D has been supported under COVID-19 Research Consortia through National Biopharma Mission for Preclinical studies, Phase I and Phase II Clinical Trials and under the Mission COVID Suraksha for Phase III Clinical Trial.

This three-dose vaccine which when injected produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and elicits an immune response, which plays a vital role in protection from disease as well as viral clearance.

The plug-and-play technology on which the plasmid DNA platform is based can be easily adapted to deal with mutations in the virus, such as those already occurring.