India's first intranasal Covid vaccine is introduced by which of the following companies?

Correct option is B

· India's first intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, named iNCOVACC (BBV154), was developed by Bharat Biotech.

· It is the world's first intranasal vaccine to receive approval for both primary immunization and as a heterologous booster dose.

· The vaccine uses a non-replicating viral vector platform and is administered through the nasal route, stimulating a mucosal immune response in addition to a systemic immune response.

Key features of iNCOVACC:

• Needle-free and painless administration.
• Easy to store and transport, as it requires standard refrigeration.
• Enhances ease of large-scale vaccination drives, especially in remote areas.

The vaccine was officially launched in January 2023, and Bharat Biotech stated that it aims to address the global need for affordable and effective vaccines.

Additional Information:

• Bharat Biotech was also the developer of Covaxin, one of India's primary Covid-19 vaccines.
• The intranasal route is considered advantageous as it targets the virus at its entry point in the respiratory system, potentially reducing transmission.

Other Options:

• Cadila Pharmaceuticals: It developed ZyCoV-D, India’s first DNA-based Covid vaccine, but not the intranasal vaccine.
• Cipla Limited: Cipla is known for pharmaceutical production and distribution but has not introduced a Covid vaccine.
• Serum Institute of India: It developed vaccines like Covishield and Covovax, but not an intranasal vaccine.