Bharat Biotech Credits ICMR As 'Co-Owner' Of Covid-19 Jab Covaxin

Bharat Biotech International Ltd. cleared the air on Indian Council Of Medical Research being omitted from the patent documents for the jointly developed Covid-19 vaccine. In a statement on Saturday, the Krishna Ella-led pharmaceutical major recognised the Indian medical research body as the co-owner of the jab.

The clarification came after media reports pointed out that Bharat Biotech has been credited as the sole inventor of Covaxin in the patent documents for the vaccine.

The copy of agreement between Bharat Biotech and ICMR for the development of Covid-19 vaccine was not accessible at the time of filing the patent application, and that led to the latter being left out.

"Though this was purely unintentional, such mistakes are not uncommon for the Patent office therefore Patent Law provides provisions to rectify such mistakes," Bharat Biotech said

Bharat Biotech said it has already started the process to include ICMR as co-owner of the patent applications for Covid-19 vaccine. The documents will be filed in the patents office once they are ready and signed, the statement said.

Covaxin was developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology. The inactivated vaccine was approved by World Health Organisation for emergency use in November 2021.