The Government of India has finalised arrangements with Hyderabad based vaccine manufacturer Biological-E to reserve 30 crore of COVID-19 vaccine doses. 

The vaccine being developed by Biological-E is a RBD protein sub-unit vaccine and is likely to be available in the next few months. These vaccine doses will be manufactured and stockpiled by Biological-E from August-December 2021. For this purpose, the Union Ministry of Health would be making an advance payment of Rs. 1,500 crore to the company. 

The COVID-19 vaccine of Biological-E is currently undergoing Phase-3 clinical trials after showing promising results in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. 

The proposal of Biological-E Ltd. was examined and recommended for approval after due diligence by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC). The arrangement with Biological-E Ltd. is part of the wider endeavour of the Government of India to encourage indigenous vaccine manufacturers by providing them support in Research & Development and also financial support. 

The Biological-E COVID Vaccine has been supported by the Government of India from Preclinical stage to Phase-3 studies. The Department of Biotechnology has not only provided financial assistance in terms of grant-in-aid of over Rs. 100 crore but has also partnered with Biological-E to conduct all animal challenge and assay studies through its Research Institute Translational Health Science Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad. 

This has been undertaken as part of Government of India's ‘Mission COVID Suraksha', the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission which was launched to reinforce and accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development efforts as part of the third stimulus package, Atmanirbhar 3.0.