PM Modi visits Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad to review COVID vaccine development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began his three-city visit to review coronavirus vaccine development work by going to pharma major Zydus Cadila's manufacturing facility near Ahmedabad. PM Narendra Modi arrived at Hyderabad's Bharat Biotech facility as part of his three-city tour to take the stock of COVID-19 vaccine development.
After landing at Hakimpet Air Force station in Hyderabad, he was received by Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Director General of Police and other officials. Earlier in the morning, Modi visited Zydus Cadila's plant near Ahmedabad.
He will be proceeding to Bharat Biotech's facility located at Genome valley, a life sciences cluster about 20 km from the AF base, officials said. Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology is now undergoing phase-3 trials.
The vaccine is being developed and will be manufactured at Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) facility in Genome Valley in Hyderabad. Modi will be interacting with scientists and senior management of the city-based vaccine maker onthe status of Covaxin.
PM Modi in Ahmedabad
Wearing a PPE kit, Modi reviewed the vaccine development process at the Zydus Cadila research centre in Changodar industrial area, over 20 km from Ahmedabad.
After his arrival at Ahmedabad airport from Delhi shortly after 9 am, Modi flew to the Zydus Cadila plant and held discussions with the promoters and executives of the company, an official said. Modi spent over an hour at the plant, before leaving for the airport, from where will fly to Hyderabad.
"Visited Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad to know more about the indigenous DNA based vaccine being developed by Zydus Cadila. I compliment the team behind this effort for their work. Govt of India is actively working with them to support them in this journey," said PM Modi.
Zydus Cadila has announced that the phase-I clinical trial of its vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D is over and it has commenced phase-II clinical trials from August.
After his hour-long visit to the facility, the PM will proceed to Pune, where he will visit the Serum Institute of India (SII), which has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and the Oxford University for the vaccine.
The prime minister will reach Serum Institute campus around 4.30 pm, an official said.
Modi's hour-long visit to SII is aimed at reviewing the status of the vaccine candidate for coronavirus infection and to know about its launch, production and distribution mechanism, he said.
PM Modi three-city visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will personally review the coronavirus vaccine development and manufacturing process. The Prime Minister will visit the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune. Prime Minister's Office informed regarding Modi's visit through the official Twitter handle.
"Tomorrow, PM @narendramodi will embark on a 3 city visit to personally review the vaccine development & manufacturing process. He will visit the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad & Serum Institute of India in Pune," the PMO tweeted.
"As India enters a decisive phase of the fight against COVID-19, PM @narendramodis visit to these facilities & discussions with the scientists will help him get a first hand perspective of the preparations, challenges & roadmap in Indias endeavour to vaccinate its citizens," the PMO added.
The PM will fly back to Delhi in the evening, the official said.
