Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine has shown 80.6% efficacy in interim data from Phase III clinical trials, slightly better than the 79.3% reported by Sinopharm and significantly higher than Sinovac’s 50.6% for their vaccines based on similar technology. Supply deals are already on the way, with Brazil having signed up for 200 million doses.

A strong year is predicted for biopharma business with investment and deal making set to continue apace. Executives across industry share their forecasts for the year ahead.

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. 

Serum Institute has struck a partnership with Dynavax and Aurobindo Pharma with US-based company COVAXX for new vaccine candidates while Bharat Biotech has tied up with Ocugen to explore marketing of its existing contender, Covaxin, in the US.