Bharat Biotech chief takes on Serum Institute in Covid-19 vaccine war

Krishna Ella turns the tables on critics, questions approval granted to Oxford-Astra vaccine

A vaccine war has surfaced as India prepares for a massive inoculation drive to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has killed more than 150,000 in the country. A day after two vaccines got restricted emergency use authorisation from the drug regulator, one of them — Bharat Biotech — has raised the pitch against competition. This comes in the backdrop of wide criticism against the approval granted to Bharat Biotech, which is yet to complete its phase three trial and present efficacy data.    

At a hurriedly called virtual press conference, Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech,