Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Hyderabad biotech startup PopVax begins human trials of Covid vaccine
Hyderabad-based biotech startup PopVax has begun human trials of its first vaccine candidate, a Covid vaccine designed to remain stable without refrigeration.
The company is testing it in Australia, where phase 1 trial approvals are typically faster than in India.
The vaccine aims to ease cold-chain challenges that can make distribution harder in developing countries.
Phase 1 trials mainly check safety, tolerability and dosage in healthy volunteers before a vaccine can move to larger studies.
PopVax was founded in 2021 during the Covid pandemic and now has a wider pipeline that includes vaccines for hepatitis C and strep A, as well as cancer immunotherapies.
The startup says it plans to make the Covid vaccine open-source after phase 1 trials.
It hopes to move other drugs and vaccines into clinical trials over the next two years, but says slow approvals and limited funding are challenges.
Hyderabad-based biotech startup PopVax has begun human trials of its first vaccine candidate, a fridge-stable, broad-spectrum Covid vaccine.
The trials are being conducted in Australia, where phase 1 approvals are faster than in India, according to the company’s founder.
PopVax plans to make the vaccine open-source after phase 1 trials.
The startup was launched in 2021 and has seven vaccines in development at various stages.
Its pipeline also includes cancer immunotherapies and drug candidates for diseases including hepatitis C and strep A.
- Who
- PopVax, a Hyderabad-based biotech startup founded by Soham Sankaran.
- What
- It has taken its fridge-stable, broad-spectrum Covid vaccine candidate into human trials.
- When
- Recently, as reported on 27 October 2026.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- The vaccine is intended to address cold-chain concerns in developing countries. PopVax is conducting the trial in Australia because clinical trial timelines are faster there than in India.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
PopVax was launched during the Covid pandemic.
PopVax grew from two people in a shared lab at CCMB to a 10,000 sq. ft facility.
PopVax took its first vaccine candidate into human trials in Australia.
PopVax plans to make the vaccine open-source.
- Trial location
- Australia
- Vaccine candidate
- Fridge-stable, broad-spectrum Covid vaccine
- Planned open-source release
- After phase 1 trials
- Startup launched
- 2021
- Vaccines in development
- Seven
- Founder and CEO
- Soham Sankaran
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