CEPI partners Bharat Biotech to develop 'variant-proof' vaccine

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global alliance to finance and coordinate the development of new vaccines, has joined hands with Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, the University of Sydney and ExcellGene of Switzerland to develop a 'variant-proof' Covid-19 vaccine. CEPI will provide funding of up to $19.3 million to support the development of a 'variant proof' Sars-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.

"Our expertise in product development and innovation, especially with novel adjuvants and platform technologies will add to the strong partnership with CEPI, ExcellGene, and the University of Sydney," Krishna Ella, MD of Bharat Biotech, said in a statement. The CEPI's funding will support consortium as it seeks to establish proof of concept for an adjuvanted subunit vaccine designed to give broad protection against all known variants.