Animal trials for H1N1 vaccine begin in India

New Delhi, Oct 11: Animal trials for H1N1 vaccine has begun in India, a official of Serum Institute of India said.

Rajeev M Dhere, Senior Director, Serum Institute of India said, "Animal trials for the H1N1 vaccine have started."

More than 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be administered to animals over a period of 40 to 50 days.

The report on toxicity will be submitted to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for permission to undertake Phase I human clinical trials.

"We hope to finish the animal trials by Nov end or Dec first week and begin human trials thereafter with permission from the DGCI," Dhere said.

All clinical trials for the vaccine are expected to end by Feb 2010. "Going by our animal data, so far, the results are satisfactory," Dhere added.

OneIndia News