J&J executive emphasizes that fast-tracked development of COVID-19 vaccines does not come with any corners cut around safety. Indian partner Biological E also outlines the complexities in manufacturing and believes that the candidates from J&J, AstraZeneca and others will be more suitable in profile and price terms to contain the pandemic globally.

Which vaccines will India use for immunizing its 1.35 billion population against COVID-19? Where will the money come from? Will it allow sales of these vaccines in the market? As the world’s largest democracy gets set to roll out its immunization plan, here’s a look at a few pertinent questions.

Pfizer and separately Serum Institute, which is partnering Oxford/AstraZeneca's COVID-19 candidate, have filed for emergency use authorizations of their vaccines in India. While Pfizer is yet to conduct clinical trials in India, questions over a serious adverse event during Serum's trials linger despite the regulator's clean chit.

SK set for Korean trial with vaccine, as Biological E begins human trials of Baylor vaccine. Meanwhile, DongWha gets a Phase II nod for potential drug, and Celltrion progesses with Phase II regdanvimab trial.