First Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine Approved in India

Bharat Biotech Tweeted on November 28, 2022, that iNCOVACC became the world's first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine to receive both primary series and Heterologous booster approval in India. 

Previously, ANI Tweeted on November 25, 2022, the Drugs Controller General of India had approved Bharat Biotech's Intranasal 'Five Arms' booster dose of iNCOVACC.

iNCOVACC (ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S ) is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a prefusion stabilized spike protein.

iNCOVACC is formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops.

The intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response – neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T-cell responses. Immune responses at the site of infection (in the nasal mucosa) are essential for blocking both infection and transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 

The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed in partnership with Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. 

On September 28, 2022, Ocugen, Inc. announced it entered into an exclusive license agreement with Washington University for the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize its proprietary, intranasally delivered COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

On September 6, 2022, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted the 'iNCOVACC nasal vaccine was approved for adults.

"We are proud to announce the approval of iNCOVACC, a global game changer in Intra Nasal vaccines technology and delivery systems," commented Dr. Mandaviya. 

Bharat Biotech's Covaxin™ whole virion, inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, has been widely deployed during the pandemic. It is based on the Asp614Gly variant that uses adjuvant Alhydroxiquim-II to boost immune response and longer-lasting immunity.