The 65-year-old scientist spends 16 hours in the lab, his wife looks after the entire team’s food and drink

This conversation is with one of the most important and important people of today. You are Dr. Krishna M. Alla. Dr. Alla is the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech Company. This company is in Gnome Valley, Hyderabad. This company is making the vaccine of Korena.

Dr. Alla and his team have been working on this for the past 9 months. The task is that 65-year-old Dr. Alla Rose is spending 16 hours in the lab. His wife Suchitra Alla Yun is a joint managing director in the company, but these days, the scientist working in the lab of the company is looking after the arrangements for food and drink. If you are playing a role like a mother.

During the clinical trial of Kovacsin, Dr. Alla has spoken to a media house for the first time. During this time, he talked about the vaccine as well as all the aspects related to his life, which he has shared rarely or no.

So read the entire conversation…

When did you think of making covaxin and what was the first thing about it?

In January last year, the work of the Corona vaccine started in China. The US, Russia also started work in March-April. Then I felt that if work did not start immediately, India could be left behind in this race. No country supports anyone in an epidemic. First of all, save ourselves. Nationalism comes. So I immediately spoke at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and got involved in vaccine development. At that time we used to do the same discus at home that somehow India should make its own vaccine, because it is a question of our respect.

How did you choose a team to make this vaccine? How many people were involved?

We initially selected a team of about 200 people for vaccine development. There were 50 people who had to work inside the lab. 20 of these 50 were Scientists. Those inside the lab were 35 years old or even younger. The only condition was that whosoever will be elected, they cannot go home for the next 5 months. Their stay and food will be arranged in the company guest house, so they had already told everyone to bring their family and wife permission. When everyone agreed, we included him in the team.

Has there been any change in your life after the introduction of vaccine development?

Ever since work started on the Corona vaccine, I have been giving 16 to 18 hours in the lab everyday. There is a lot of tension in life now. Happiness is low. Even on the day when something negative happens, one cannot sleep that night. The day that ends well, that night also brings good sleep. This is the change that has taken place.

The news is that your wife Dr. Suchitra Alla is also engaged in vaccine development?

No. It’s not like that. They are not involved in development, but they are responsible for the scientist’s stay, food and drink. And the biggest thing is that she keeps everyone motivet. His contribution is the biggest.

What was the biggest challenge for you during this vaccine development?

Media remains the biggest challenge for us. We are doing a clinical trial. Many times the media publishes news which spreads confusion among the people and this affects the trial. The volunteers who are currently joining the clinical trial are like soldiers for us. Trial cannot happen without them and if we do not do clinical trials, we will never be able to invent anything new. I say that once I have completed my trials then if anything goes wrong then put my report in the police, but at least do not interfere in this work.

Now I want to know something about you … I read that you are the son of a farmer, then how did you come to pharma?

My whole family has been associated with farming. I have never had a businessman, entrepreneur, professional at home before. Was a middle class family. I too did my graduation in agriculture, but when my father told me to do farming, he said that your degree can be used in a job. You will not be able to do farming on their own.

At that time the financial condition of the family was also not very good, so I started a job in a company. At the same time, I got a fellowship and went to the US for studies. He did his PG and PhD there. It was settled there. I did not even want to come to India, but my mother and wife insisted that they come to India.

Mother said- Whatever amount the son earns, but your stomach is only 9 inches. You will not be able to eat more than this. Don’t take any tension, we’ll see it all, just come to India. Will not let you go hungry. After this I came to India. Was wondering what to do in India.

At that time, a vaccine for hepatitis was worth 5000 rupees, so why not think that cheap vaccine should be made in India, because my expertise was in molecular biology. The bus entered the pharma sector from here and then the journey started.

How has been the journey so far in life? Sometimes there is a chance to think back…

We made the cheapest medicine for Hepatitis. Now you are getting only 10 rupees. It was launched in 1998 by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. We patented the world first to make Zika virus vaccine. We also made the first indigenous vaccine of Rota virus. For this, the Aficacy clinical trial was done, in which 6800 volunteers of the country were involved. Clinical trials are very important to defeat any new disease. We have started clinical trials in the country.

We do not think of two-five but eight-ten years in advance and are engaged in research related to it. Then go and get life saving vaccines. We are also developing covaxin entirely in India. We have no foreign godfather. Our Godfather is just the Government of India.

How many doses of covaxine will have to be applied after vaccine approval? And yes … what will it cost?

It will have two doses. The second dose will be given 28 days after the first dose. It is too early to say anything about the price. Yes, in the beginning the price may be slightly higher, but as the volume increases, the price will decrease.

At what temperature must the vaccine be stored? And when can vaccination go on in our country?

The vaccine has to be stored at 4 degree temperature, so no special temperature is required. How long the vaccination will last cannot be said, but I personally feel that it should last for the next two to three years.

How safe is the lab in your company that is doing scientific research?

We have a lab with Bio Safety Level-3 facility. Scientists working here are safer than their home. They come out for lunch. While going to the lab, our dress is like a space suit, which helps us to be completely safe.

When is the phase-3 results of the trial expected? And how long can the vaccine be launched?

In Phase-3, a total of 26 thousand volunteers are to be tried. We have recruited 13,000 volunteers. Its results can start coming in February. The government has to decide when the vaccine will come in the market, because it is a case of epidemic. We have applied for permission for Emergency Use. If the government gives permission today, then we can get the vaccine available immediately, because our phase one and two trials have been very good. The trials conducted on animals in Pune have also been completely successful.

• Suchitra Alla is the wife of Dr. Krishna Alla. Suchitra is the Joint MD of Bharat Biotech. We have also talked to them. Click here to read …

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