PM Modi lauds Zydus Cadila team for its work on Covid-19 vaccine

The government of India is actively working with them to support them in this journey, he adds

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday commended the Zydus Cadila's team for the efforts taken to develop an indigenous DNA-based vaccine to tackle Covid-19. He said that the government of India was actively working with them to support them on this journey.

"Visited Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad to know more about the indigenous DNA based vaccine being developed by Zydus Cadila. I compliment the team behind this effort for their work. Govt of India is actively working with them to support them in this journey," said PM Modi in a tweet.

PM Modi visited Zydus Biotech Park of pharma company Zydus Cadila located in the outskirts of Ahmedabad to "review the status of the vaccine being developed by the firm and related technologies for vaccine production." Although no official communication has been released as yet sources said that Modi was taken on a guided tour by senior officials of the firm to its modern facilities to under the vaccine development and its manufacturing process.

The PM arrived at Ahmedabad airport at 9 am and boarded a helicopter to reach Changodar industrial area in the outskirts of Ahmedabad where Zydus Biotech Park is located. His visit lasted nearly an hour during which he interacted with scientists and chairman and managing director of the drugmaker.

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Zydus Cadila's vaccine candidate is "ZyCoV-D," which is being developed at its Vaccine Technology Centre, is said to be completing the second phase of the trial.

Despite repeated attempts, officials at the pharma company refused to comment.

Zydus Cadila announced that the Phase-I clinical trial of its vaccine candidate ZyCoV-D has been completed and it commenced the Phase-II clinical trials from August.

Later in the day, Chairman Pankaj Patel in a video message on Twitter said, "Today, the prime minister visited our Zydus Biotech Park. His visit encouraged us to do more. His knowledge and wisdom about the problem and guidance are valuable for our scientific staff and all of us. About 1,800 scientists and 25,000 employees are continuously fighting and working for providing safe and efficacious vaccine, better covid treatment and diagnosis."