iNCOVACC is India’s first nasal vaccine for Covid-19.

India’s first nasal vaccine iNCOVACC (BBV154) is set to be made available in the nation as a booster dosage soon.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) granted vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech the business permission to employ heterologous booster dosages of iNCOVACC earlier this month.

According to a statement from Bharat Biotech, the vaccine, which is now offered on CoWin, is priced at Rs 800 for private markets and Rs 325 for delivery to the federal and state governments.

The manufacturer describes iNCOVACC as a recombinant adenovirus-vectored vaccination with a pre-fusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Clinical studies for this vaccine candidate were conducted in stages I, II, and III, with positive outcomes.

The vaccine's formulation enables intranasal administration through nasal drops. The nasal delivery method was created and developed to be affordable in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

As quoted in the statement, the Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, Dr. Krishna Ella, said, “We have achieved the goals we set for ourselves during this pandemic. We have developed COVAXIN and iNCOVACC, two COVID vaccines from two different platforms, with two different delivery systems.”

“The vectored intra-nasal delivery platform gives us the capability for rapid product development, scale-up, easy and painless immunization during public health emergencies and pandemics,” he added.

He expressed his gratitude for their assistance and direction to the Ministry of Health, CDSCO, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Technology Development Board, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Bharat Biotech's iNCOVACC will be the country of India's first needle-free booster shot. According to the company's statement, India will now have additional alternatives when it comes to third doses or precautionary dosages.

iNCOVACC was tested in clinical studies as a primary dosage schedule and as a heterologous booster dose for patients who had already received two doses of the two COVID vaccines that are often used in India. It went on to say that iNCOVACC is stable at 2–8 °C for simple distribution and storage.