ICMR, Bharat Biotech tie up for Indian COVID-19 vaccine MAY 10, 2020 https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/coronavirus-icmr-bharat-biotech-tie-up-for-indian-covid-19-vaccine/article31547614.ece ICMR statement: transferred virus strain isolated at the National Institute of Virology, Pune (an ICMR institute) to BBIL...“ICMR-NIV will provide continuous support to BBIL for vaccine development. ICMR and BBIL will seek fast-track approvals to expedite vaccine development, subsequent animal studies and clinical evaluation of the candidate vaccine, which will be fully indigenous to India,”.
India’s Covid-19 vaccine is at the center of a corruption scandal in Brazil https://qz.com/india/2027345/brazil-suspends-deal-with-indias-bharat-biotech-for-covaxin/
https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/brazil-to-suspend-324-mn-vaccine-contract-to-buy-20-mn-doses-of-covaxin-121063000118_1.html Brazil's health minister has announced that the country will suspend a USD 324 million contract to buy 20 million doses of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
Bharat Biotech says it received no advance payment from Brazil govt for Covaxin https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bharat-biotech-says-it-received-no-advance-payment-from-brazil-govt-for-covaxin-101625034370081.html 30 June 2021. "The pricing of Covaxin has been clearly established between $15-20 per dose for supplies to Governments outside India. The pricing for Brazil has also been indicated at $15 per dose,"
In a Congress Press Conference, https://youtube.com/embed/V7as3F2TxFY?start=253 , emphasised that Covaxin is not just the property of BBIL. ICMR is to get 5% royalties. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, “It is important for us to raise these questions, because Bharat Biotech may be a private entity, but, public fund was diverted for the development of this vaccine, taxpayers’ money was put into this. So besides the escalation of price, the issue is that Madisson Biotech , Singapore based company, who founder is the same as Bharat Biotech founder, is accused of asking for a 45 million dollar advance into a Singapore bank account. (see https://www.facebook.com/quebrandootabu/posts/4649101101812907 ) “The question also is that ICMR was slated to get 5 per cent of the profit from the sale of Covaxin. But, allegations are that Bharat biotech was selling to (Singapore-based) Madison Biotech at a lower price and Madison was garnering the lion’s share of the profit.
Bharat Biotech Says 'No Wrongdoing' Amid Row Over Brazil Covaxin Deal https://www.ndtv.com/video/news/news/brazil-covaxin-deal-bharat-biotech-says-no-wrongdoing-amid-row-over-brazil-covaxin-deal-592008 https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bharat-biotech-on-brazil-covaxin-deal-row-step-by-step-approach-followed-towards-contracts-regulatory-approvals-2475796
Bharat Biotech said it had followed a "step-by-step" approach towards contracts and regulatory approvals with Brazil. Bharat Biotech said Madison Biotech was set up by its founder Krishna Ella last year for research and development, sales and marketing of vaccines. the procurement process of Covaxin in Brazil and other countries.. for routine immunization follow a common process which is widely accepted, and established in Industry,"
The price of Covaxin had been "clearly established" between $15-20 per dose for countries other than India. Bharat Biotech has received advance payments from several other countries at the above price points, with supplies in process, pending approvals,"
There is no clarification if ICMR is in the know of this deal, and is getting its fair share and ICMR is party to the decision to sell the Vaccine to Brazil, when there are existing requirements India.
'COVAXINGATE' : How Covaxin Became The Center of A Corruption Storm in Brazil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxJWkHZArMc Jul 7, 2021
On Friday, 2nd of July, the Supreme Court of Brazil ordered a criminal investigation against President Jair Bolsonaro for dereliction of duty.
The allegations made against the Bolsonaro administration suggest that there were irregularities, possibly corruption, involved in the contract for the purchase of 20 million doses of Covaxin for 300 million dollars.
https://youtube.com/embed/pxJWkHZArMc?start=166&end=334 Bharat Biotech has denied any wrong doing. Neeta Sanghi, who has three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical supply chain, talks about the future of COVAXIN exports syaing The image of the brand, at least temporarily will get impacted, but because of the shortage of vaccines, the scandal may not impact orders.