GM Quader seeks govt support for local vaccine Bangavax

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday urged the government to extend its necessary support to local company Globe Biotech so that it can succeed in developing its vaccine - Bangavax.

In a statement, he voiced resentment as Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) is not giving approval to the company for conducting a clinical trial of the vaccine.

"The people of the country want to know in whose interest the trial of Bangavax is not taking place through four months have elapsed (since it has sought permission). The government should extend support for the success of the locally developed vaccine alongside importing foreign ones to prevent the coronavirus," he said.

The Jatiya Party chief said Globe Biotech applied to the BMRCH for ist approval to carry out a clinical trial in January last. "But the permission has not been given yet for reasons unknown."

Even, he said, the World Health Organization has listed Bangavax as a potential vaccine for corona prevention.

On December 26 last year, GM Quader said the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) also allowed Globe Biotech to produce a vaccine for the trial. "But Bangavax cannot make any breakthrough for lack of BMRC's permission."

Citing researchers of Globe Biotech, the Jatiya Party chairman said a single dose Bangavax found effective in developing antibodies during the animal trial of the vaccine.

"The researchers expect to have similar results in clinical trials. As the one-dose vaccine, Bangavax is made synthetically, it's virus-free and 100 per cent halal," he said.

GM Quader said the government should help the company produce its vaccine. "If Bangavax succeeds in the clinical trial, it'll be possible to export it abroad by meeting the local demand."

He also said Bangladesh's Bangavax can come to the global spotlight by exhibiting its efficiency in preventing the coronavirus.