Serum Institute of India today said it would stop the Phase 3 trials of Covishield vaccine being developed by the Oxford University along with pharma major AstraZeneca.
The trials were to begin in India next week. The move has come on the heels of trials coming to a grinding halt in four countries after one of the recipients in the UK showing potentially adverse symptoms.
“We are reviewing the situation and pausing India trials till AstraZeneca restarts the trails,” read a statement from the Serum Institute. The groundwork for the trials, including listing volunteers, however, is continuing unabated.
“We are following instructions and will not be able to comment further on trials,” added the statement released today by the institute, headed by Adar Poonawalla.
AstraZeneca, the British-Swedish pharma giant, had said the volunteer had suffered “an unexplained illness” and such pauses in drug trials are “routine.”
