CrisprBits develops OmiCrisp , India ’ s first CRISPR-based SARS- CoV2 test
CrisprBits , one of the first Indian companies using CRISPR , has developed OmiCrisp , a CRISPR- based test to detect SARS-CoV2 and to determine whether it is an Omicron or non-omicron variant . The patent pending OmiCrisp test uses the Cas12a enzyme and separate guides to target variant-specific sequences found in Omicron and non-Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 . This is different from many other tests in the market that use RT-PCR signal drop-out to identify Omicron variants . Dr . Vijay Chandru , Co-Founder of CrisprBits , said , “ CRISPR offers great promise to meet the need for pervasive and distributed diagnostic platforms . The accuracy of these tests on both clinical and environmental samples gives us great hope , as well as the ease of rapidly redesigning assays as new emerging variants of pathogens and resistance markers need to be detected .
Bharat Biotech launches iNNCOVACC , world ’ s first intranasal Covid-19 vaccine
Bharat Biotech International , a global vaccine leader launched the world ’ s first COVID
intranasal vaccine for primary series and heterologous booster , iNCOVACC ( BBV154 ), on January 26 , 2023 . The vaccine is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilized spike protein . This vaccine candidate was evaluated in phase I , II and III clinical trials with successful results . It has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops . The vaccine was launched by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya , Minister for Health and Family Welfare , in the presence of Dr . Jitendra Singh , Minister for Science & Technology , on the occasion of Republic Day . iNCOVACC is available on CoWIN , and priced at Rs 800 for private markets and Rs 325 for supplies to governments .
Biocon Foundation wins ‘ IHW Gold Award ’ for diseases screening initiative of the year 2022
Biocon Foundation , the CSR arm of Biocon Limited , has been awarded the Gold Award in the ‘ Diseases Screening Initiative of the Year ’ category for its ‘ Oral Cancer Screening Program ’ by the India Health and Wellness ( IHW ) Council at the annual IHW Summit & Awards event , held in Mumbai . Biocon Foundation ’ s Mission Director , Dr Anupama Shetty received the award which was co-hosted by the Public Health & Family Welfare Department , Government of Maharashtra and supported by NITI Aayog .
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BioVoiceNews | February 2023