ZyCoV-D might be sold at Rs 265/dose: Sources

Sources informed on Sunday that Zydus Cadila has agreed to bring down the price of its COVID-19 vaccine to Rs 265 a dose. The fall in price comes following persistent negotiations with the government. However, the final deal is yet to be reached. Zydus Cadila's ZyCov-D is the first vaccine cleared by India's drug regulator for inoculation of those aged 12 years and above.

A disposable painless jet applicator is required to administer the needle-free vaccine. Each one costs Rs 93 for each dose and takes the price per dose to Rs 358. The pharma company had earlier proposed Rs 1,900 for its three-dose regimen, which is to be administered 28 days apart. Each dose comprises a shot in both arms.

"The company has brought down the price to ₹ 358 for each dose which includes ₹ 93, the cost of a disposable jet applicator, following repeated negotiations by the government.... A final decision in the matter is likely to be taken this week," a source said.

The indigenously developed world's first DNA-based needle-free vaccine received emergency use authorisation on August 20. The government is still waiting for the recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) for introducing ZyCoV-D in the inoculation drive for adults and children with co-morbidities. NTAGI will provide the protocol and framework for introducing the vaccination in the immunisation drive.

As ZyCoV-D is a three-dose vaccine and requires a special pharma jet, its pricing is different from Covaxin and Covishield. That pharma jet injector can be used for administering around 20,000 doses.

"The jet applicator helps the vaccine fluid to penetrate the skin to enter cells of the recipient," the source said.

A source further informed that Zydis Cadila could provide around two crore doses in November. Currently, Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V are being administered across the country for those over 18 years of age. Unlike ZyCov-D, these are two-dose regimes. While Covishield is procured at Rs 205 per dose, Covaxin is procured at Rs 215 per dose. India has administered more than 106 crore doses of the COVID-19 vaccine so far.