Does Covaxin have newborn calf serum? Bharat Biotech clarifies as RTI document goes viral

Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, which developed India’s indegenious Covid-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’, on Wednesday stated that the COVAXIN is ‘highly purified ‘to contain only the inactivated virus components by removing all other impurities.

‘New born calf serum’ is used in the manufacturing of viral vaccines and it is used for the growth of cells, but neither used in growth of SARS CoV2 virus nor in the final formulation, the vaccine maker said in a statement.

Bovine serum has been widely used in the manufacture of vaccines globally for several decades and the usage of ‘new born calf serum’ was transparently documented in various publications since the last 9 months, it added.

The Company had earlier said it has so far invested over Rs 500 crore at risk from its own resources for product (Covaxin) development, clinical trials and setting up of manufacturing facilities for COVAXIN.

Bharat Biotech is investing in new facilities and repurposing existing ones across several states in India for enhancing the production of COVAXIN.

It is pertinent to mention here that the urgent need to set up a significant number of manufacturing facilities and to divert existing ones for COVAXIN, has resulted in reduced production of other vaccines at our facilities, leading to loss in revenues, the statement said.

We have been extremely diligent in selecting manufacturing facilities and partners, with the required levels of containment, capabilities and expertise.

Product development activities towards the development of vaccines against ‘newer variants’ are also underway at our facilities, the statement added. (UNI)