With the impact of pandemic-prompted disturbances waning, analysts forecast better Q2 numbers for Indian pharma firms, with some including Glenmark and Cipla seen emerging winners. But after doing well in the quarter, Gilead’s licensees might see remdesivir demand tapering somewhat in Q3 post the WHO finding the antiviral ineffective in COVID-19 treatment.

Dr Reddy’s combines forces with the Russian Direct Investment Fund for clinical trials and supply of Sputnik V in India, amid what it views as “very important” data points in early studies of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The study is designed to support the regulatory approval process in China and confirm that the safety and immunogenicity profile observed in German and US trials is comparable to that of Chinese participants, according to BioNTech.

High-profile experts including Anthony Fauci and Adrian Hill share views at the ICMR symposium on progressing safe COVID-19 vaccines backed by ethical trials executed with appropriate scientific rigor. Human challenge studies, "vaccine nationalism" and equitable access were among the key issues deliberated, while India committed to making its coronavirus vaccines and related capabilities available to the world.