13th COVID-19 Vaccine Awarded WHO Emergency Use Listing

Biological E. Limited today announced that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has granted an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) to their CORBEVAX® vaccine, India's first indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine.

As of January 16, 2024, there are 13 COVID-19 vaccines granted EUL by the WHO. 

CORBEVAX's antigen's initial construct and production process were developed at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas, led by Drs. Bottazzi and Hotez and in-licensed from BCM Ventures.

CORBEVAX is a protein sub-unit vaccine not produced with mRNA technology. 

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has already approved CORBEVAX  for restricted use in emergencies among adults, adolescents, and young children in a sequential manner from December '21 to April '22, as well as India's first heterologous COVID-19 booster shot for adults age 18 and above in June '22.

BE supplied 100 Million Doses of CORBEVAX to the Government of India.

Ms. Mahima Datla, Managing Director of Biological E. Limited, said in a press release, "We understand that several countries come under a lot of fiscal pressure when dealing with COVID-19. We aim to reach the people in those countries with CORBEVAX, just as we have done with all our other vaccines."

"Our commitment is to provide affordable and accessible high-quality vaccines, and the WHO EUL lays a path for us to make that possible."

Ms. Mahima further added, "While several companies which entered the field of vaccine development & manufacturing during the COVID-19 pandemic exited soon afterward either due to paucity of funds or lack of success, BE continues to remain committed to develop and provide access to high-quality, affordable vaccines globally by constantly enlarging its portfolio of offerings."

As of January 17, 2024, CORBEVAX is not U.S. FDA-approved or available in the U.S.