Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine Launches in India

Various media outlets (ANI) reported today that Bharat Biotech's iNCOVACC® intranasal vaccine that stimulates a broad immune response neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses launched in India.

The company says this ade-in-India vaccine generates immune responses at the site of infection (nasal mucosa) that are essential for blocking infection and transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Indications are that iNCOVACC will become commercially available in India during February 2023.

On December 8, 2022, the U.S. NIAID wrote a related article: 'As the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has evolved, so has scientists' knowledge of how to manage its spread and severity.

Importantly, scientists have learned that the virus first infects the nose and throat before sometimes spreading to the lungs, where severe COVID-19 can develop.

But the nose and throat are difficult destinations for the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that develop in the blood after a vaccine is injected into the arm or leg – making those hard-to-reach areas targets for better vaccines.'