Aurobindo Pharma has said it is expecting its suggested vaccine candidate for COVID-19 to undergo Phase I and II trials by the end of 2020, while Stage III might be performed during March-April next year.Managing Director of Aurobindo Pharma, Narayanan Govindarajan in the newly held earnings call with analysts said the city-based pharma major has allowed USD 150-200 million towards capex through the current financial crisis.

He said the vaccine to get COVID-19 is being developed by Profectus BioSciences Inc in US, which was obtained by AurobindoPharmas subsidiary Auro Vaccines LLC.

According to Govindarajan, the company's viral vaccine production capacity in India would be undertaken in two phases. The first stage would be prepared by October along with the commercial facility by March, next year.

"So on the VSV platform, they (Auro Vaccines) arealready creating a COVID-19 vaccine as well and we are creating the capacity in India wherein there are two stages of capacity. The first set of capacity would be prepared by October, where we'd like to make the merchandise and begin the Phase-I and Phase-II at the end of the year"

"And our commercial centre, we're planning to have it ready by about March-April timeline where we'd love to make the product for the Phase III trials. That is the deadline for its COVID-19 vaccine based on our present premises," Govindarajan said replying to a query on the vaccine.

Aurobindo Pharma is working on developing a number of viral vaccines including a person for COVID-19 even as the offender has been approved for funding by the Department of BioTechnology, the company said in its yearly report.

The COVID-19 vaccine candidate failed an evaluation by BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council,Department of BioTechnology) and has been shortlisted for funding initial development, the firm had stated.

Asked about the capex projections, Govindarajan said,"However, for the present calendar year, we still believe it should be in the range of USD150 million to USD 200 million (of capex)."