Covaxin, the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech, neutralises the 617 variant of the pandemic, said US's top pandemic expert Anthony Fauci. Fauci said, reported multiple publications: "This is something where we're still gaining data on a daily basis. But the most recent data, was looking at convalescent Sera of COVID-19 cases and people who received the vaccine used in India, the Covaxin. It was found to neutralise the 617 variants," he said. 617 refers to the deadly double mutant variant discovered in India.
Earlier, studies from India had claimed that Covaxin was capable of neutralising deadlier variants of the disease spreading through India. Among them, specifically the B.1.617 strain, more commonly known as 'double mutant'. This new strain, discovered in Maharashtra, Punjab and West Bengal, carries two mutations—E484Q and L452R—in the crucial spike protein part of the pathogen. This increases its transmissibility and ability to bypass the immune response.
Apex body ICMR had stated that Covaxin neutralises multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively works against the double mutant strain as well. "ICMR study shows Covaxin neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well," the ICMR had tweeted.
ICMR-National Institute of Virology has successfully isolated and cultured multiple variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 virus: B.1.1.7 (the UK variant), B.1.1.28 (Brazil variant ) and B.1.351 (South Africa variant). ICMR-NIV has demonstrated the neutralisation potential of Covaxin against the UK variant and Brazil variant, the apex health research body said.
