Anocovax: Minister Launches India's First Covid-19 Vaccine

Anocovax: Agriculture Minister launches India’s first Covid-19 vaccine for animals

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched Anocovax, India’s first homegrown Covid-19 vaccine for animals, on Thursday (June 9). The Haryana-based ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines developed Anocovax. Anocovax is an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Delta (COVID-19) vaccine for animals. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the immunity elicited by Anocovax neutralizes both the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

National Research Centre on Equines

Established – 7 January 1986
Research type – Applied
Field of research – Equines
Director – B.N. Tripathi
Faculty – 31
Operating agency – Indian Council of Agricultural Research

The vaccine uses Alhydrogel as an adjuvant and contains inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (Delta) antigen. It is also safe for dogs, lions, leopards, mice, and rabbits, according to the company. “The country’s self-reliance in making its vaccines instead of importing them is due to the inexhaustible contribution of scientists. this is a great achievement,” Tomar said after the virtual launch of the ICAR-COVID-19 NRC’s vaccine and diagnostic kits for animals.

Initial research was inconclusive as to whether or not animals, particularly pets, contract Covid -19 Virus. Covid can be contracted by pets from their owners through close contact, according to studies. However, there is no evidence that humans may get Covid from animals. Tomar also launched the ‘CAN-CoV-2 ELISA kit,’ a sensitive and specific nucleocapsid protein-based indirect ELISA kit for antibody detection against SARS-CoV-2 in canines, in addition to Anocovax. “There are no laboratory animals required for the preparation of the antigens. The kit is made in India and a patent has been filed for the same. No other comparable kits for detection of antibodies in canines are available in the market,” ICAR said. ”

Surra ELISA kit, a suitable diagnostic assay for ‘Trypanosoma evansi’ infection in multiple animal species, was also launched. Surra is a disease caused by a blood-borne parasite and transmitted by biting flies. It can affect horses, donkeys, mules, deer, camels, llamas, dogs, cats, cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs. The minister also launched the Equine Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) parentage testing kit, which is a powerful genomic technology for parentage analysis among horses.