The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) initiate a $200 million development program that provides a broad-spectrum vaccine against all the variants of novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and other beta viruses. Out of which, $ 19.3 M worth of funds have been promised to a multidisciplinary consortium composed of Bharat Biotech International (India), the University of Sydney (Australia), and ExcellGene SA, Switzerland.

CEPI funding will support the development of adjuvanted subunit vaccine design with established clinical and pre-clinical proofs. The funds allocated will help researchers to conduct preclinical studies, immunogenicity tests and designs, manufacturing process development, and phase 1 clinical trials. 

Richard Hatchett, CEO stated that the repeated spike in the Covid numbers is a reminder that mankind will live alongside the infectious virus, along with the threat of new variants that might invade our vaccine protection. Hence, it is an important measure to develop a broad-spectrum vaccine that can help in managing and controlling the virus in the long run. He also added that new modified trimeric spike immunogens will be used in the vaccine design and will be produced in a robust, scalable process that will yield high purity end product at an effective cost.

Source: Financial Express