Reza Mahmud :
Globe Biotech Ltd, an indigenous pharmaceuticals institute of Bangladesh, said that a good news would be aired within five days about self produced covid preventive vaccine.
“Good news is waiting about Bangavax, a covid vaccine initiated by Globe Biotech Ltd. It may get permission for starting clinical trial within the time,” Md. Harunur Rashid, Chairman, Globe Pharmaceutical Group of Companies Ltd told The New Nation on Tuesday.
He said, the progress of getting permission for clinical trial of the own produced vaccine is optimistic while the country is suffering from lack of jab during the combat against the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Sources said, on December 28, last year, the Department of Drug Administration gave permission to Globe Biotech to produce the Bangavax vaccine.
But it has yet to get permission from Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), which has kept leg behind producing the home made vaccine, officials of the pharmaceuticals said. Globe Biotech Ltd submitted application to the BMRC on January 17 asking permission to launch a clinical trial of Bangavax Covid-19 vaccine. It sought to hold first and second phase clinical trials, they said.
On February 9, the BMRC sent a letter to Globe biotech citing several observations. Globe also submitted its reply on February 17 with regarding points.
Muhammad Mohiuddin, Manager (Operations) of Globe Biotech said, “We got effective antibody in animals’ body after administering one dose of the vaccine. We are optimistic enough that it will be similarly effective on human body.”
He said, “We are waiting for getting permission. If we get it, we will go first for starting human trial of the vaccine.”
Globe Biotech got permission on January 6 from the DGDA to manufacture the doses needed in a clinical trial.
Human health experts and officials from the Directorate General of Health Services said that vaccine producing in own country is very important, when the powerful and rich countries dominate most of the vaccines effective curbing the fatal disease.
“It is very important to produce covid preventive vaccines in our country. Some of our organizations and institutes have capability to produce the jab,” Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam, former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and eminent Virologist of the country told The New Nation.
When contacted, Professor Dr Abul Bashar Muhammad Khurshid Alam told The New Nation, “Production of own vaccine initiated by Glob Biotech Ltd will be helpful for vaccination campaign in the combat against the pandemic. But so far I know it is yet to get permission for clinical trial.”
On October 5 last year, Globe announced that its first vaccine candidate had shown promises in pre-clinical trials on mice.
Researchers involved with the Bangavax, said that a single dose of effective antibody was found in the animal trial of the vaccine. The one-dose vaccine is synthetically made and 100 percent halal, they said.
If Bangavax succeeds in the clinical trial, it will be possible to export abroad by meeting the demand of the country, they expressed optimism.
Meanwhile, BMRC Director Professor Dr. Md.Ruhul Amin told journalists that the matter is totally handled by its Chairman Professor Dr. Syed Modasser Ali.
Besides, Chairman Professor Dr. Syed Modasser Ali said that he will not comment on the matter. “I shall not comment on any media, anywhere about this,” he said.
