Acclaimed Ayurveda practitioners and academicians in India and the US are set to undertake joint clinical trials of Ayurvedic formulations against the deadly Covid-19.

Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said Ayurveda experts from the two countries have started exchanging knowledge and research resources.

“Our Institutions have been collaborating to promote Ayurveda through joint research, teaching and training programs. Ayurveda practitioners and researchers in both the countries are planning to initiate joint clinical trials of Ayurvedic formulations against Covid-19,” he said during a virtual discussion on ‘Deepening the knowledge partnership between India and the US’ the other day.

The Indo-US Science Technology Forum (IUSSTF), which played a key role in strengthening the science and innovation ecosystem, has extended support for the joint research works.

Meanwhile, Sandhu said the scope of collaboration in the fight against the viral infection also extends to areas like vaccine development among others.

“Indian pharmaceutical companies are global leaders in producing affordable low-cost medicines and vaccines and will play an important role in the fight against the pandemic. There are at least three tie-ups between Indian vaccine companies and US research organisations,” he said.

Besides, there are over 200 on-going NIH funded projects in India involving 20 institutions from the NIH network. The collaboration under the Vaccine Action Program (VAP) resulted in development of ROTAVAC vaccine against rota virus which causes severe diarrhoea in children.

The vaccine was developed by Indian company Bharat Biotech at an affordable cost. Development of many other vaccines such as TB, Influenza, Chikungunya are also in progress under the VAP, he said.