Multiple COVID-19 vaccines, including from RDIF and Novavax, could get accelerated approvals in India in the first half of calendar 2021, expanding the range at the country’s disposal. J&J's vaccine is expected to follow although it still hasn’t begun local trials, while Pfizer has temporarily withdrawn an application.

Aurobindo expects the first data readouts from the Phase II/III clinical trials of its partnered COVID-19 vaccine by July. While making progress in biosimilars development, the Indian company also plans to invest substantially in new API capacity.

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.