Pune based, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has developed, first of its kind, messenger-RNA based COVID-19 potential Vaccine candidate, HGCO19. Clinical trials of the vaccine candidate is likely to commence by this year-end.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The vaccine candidate has shown encouraging results in generating neutralizing antibody response in non-human primates. HGCO19, uses self-replicating messenger-RNA platform' ensuring low injectable dosage and sustained antigen release. <br />''<br />''This enables the vaccine candidate to provide immunity from the virus for a longer duration. Gennova has developed the vaccine candidate working in collaboration with HDT Biotech of the USA. Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and technology has facilitated development of the vaccine candidate under the Ind-CEPI mission aimed towards rapid development of vaccines in response to epidemics.</span><br />