Pfizer seeks emergency use authorisation for COVID-19 vaccine in India after UK clearance

Pfizer India has become the first pharmaceutical firm to seek from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) an emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine in the country. The development comes days after its parent company secured such clearance in the UK and Bahrain.

'Pfizer India submitted an application on December 4'

The firm, in its application submitted to the drug regulator, has sought permission to import the vaccine for sale and distribution in the country, besides waiver of clinical trials on Indian population in accordance with the special provisions under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, news agency PTI quoted official sources as saying.

"Pfizer India has submitted an application on December 4 to the DCGI seeking emergency use authorisation (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine in India," the source said. "The firm has submitted the EUA application in Form CT-18 for grant of permission to import and market Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 in the country," the source said, citing the application.

UK, Bahrain give nod to Pfizer

The United Kingdom on Wednesday became the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, with the UK regulator Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granting a temporary authorisation for its emergency use. The British regulator said the jab, which claims to offer up to 95% protection against COVID-19, is safe for roll-out.

Meanwhile, Bahrain on Friday also announced that it has granted an EUA for the two-dose vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. The pharma company has already applied to the US FDA seeking EUA for the vaccine.

READ | S Gurumurthy speaks to Arnab on India's challenges, media & Rajinikanth's political impact

The extreme low temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius required for storing the vaccine poses a big challenge for its delivery in a country like India, especially in its smaller towns and rural areas where maintaining such cold chain facilities would be very difficult, top government officials have said.

READ | Republic's AVP Ghanshyam Singh granted Bail after 25 days in Taloja jail in fraud TRP case

When contacted, Pfizer said it remains committed to engaging with the Government of India and explore opportunities to make this vaccine available for use in the country. "During this pandemic phase, Pfizer will supply this vaccine only through government contracts based on agreements with respective government authorities and following regulatory authorisation or approval," the global pharma major said in a statement.

READ | Farmers' stir: Tomar reiterates assurance on MSP & APMC, another round of talks on Dec 9

According to reports, the Indian Government didn't hold talks with Pfizer in August and there has been no development since then as the country focuses on five other candidates, including one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and produced by the Pune's Serum Institute of India.

READ | MP Govt unveils contours of anti-Love Jihad bill, guilty face up to 10 years in jail