It’s counter-intuitive, but not signing a commercial contract with BioNTech and refusing US federal funding were two of several moves Pfizer made to speed up development of its COVID-19 vaccine, CEO Albert Bourla says. Now it’s looking to supply low- and middle-income countries.

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines, including from RDIF and Novavax, could get accelerated approvals in India in the first half of calendar 2021, expanding the range at the country’s disposal. J&J's vaccine is expected to follow although it still hasn’t begun local trials, while Pfizer has temporarily withdrawn an application.

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines, including from J&J, Pfizer and RDIF, are seen gaining approvals in India in 2021, following on from a raft of R&D, manufacturing and marketing tie-ups, as well as other developments, in the action-packed field last year. 

Indian regulator is likely to ask Pfizer/BioNTech to conduct clinical trials before granting an accelerated approval, but recruitment could prove challenging for the COVID-19 vaccine as anaphylactic reactions in the US and UK sparks worry.