<span style="color: #222222;">Pfizer,  one of the world's premier biopharmaceutical companies, has sought emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine in India. The firm, in its application submitted to the drug regulator, has sought permission to import the vaccine for sale and distribution in the country.<br />'' <br />'' Pfizer India has become the first pharmaceutical firm to seek from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) an emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine in the country, after its parent company secured such clearance in the UK and Bahrain.<br />'' <br />'' Our correspondent reports, the firm, in its application submitted to the drug regulator, has sought permission to import the vaccine for sale and distribution in the country.<br />'' <br />'' Five vaccine candidates are in advanced phases of clinical trials in the country. The Serum Institute of India is conducting a phase-3 trial of the Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Indigenously developed vaccine by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR has already started the phase-3 clinical trials.<br />'' <br />'' Drug firm Zydus Cadila has received approval from the DCGI to start the phase-three clinical trials of the indigenously-developed coronavirus vaccine candidate.<br />'' <br />''Dr Reddy's Laboratories and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) have announced that they commenced adaptive phase two and three clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine  candidate Sputnik V in the country.  Biological E. Ltd has also started early phase 1 and 2 human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.</span>