Bengaluru: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here is developing a low-cost oxygen concentrator and anti-Covid vaccine, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar informed on Thursday.
“IISc researchers are designing a low-cost and efficient oxygen concentrator and developing a vaccine for treating Covid patients,” Sudhakar was quoted as saying by news agency IANS. The minister said this after a virtual interaction with the state-run institute’s Director Govindan Rangarajan.
Bangalore Medical College is currently testing the institute’s prototype oxygen concentrator of 10 litres per minute (LPM) capacity for clinical validation.
“Results of the clinical trials have been promising, as the oxygen output is about 90 per cent and more efficient than the Chinese concentrators whose output is about 50 per cent,” Rangarajan told Sudhakar during the virtual interaction.
The IISc approached the state government for its support in expediting the process of clinical validation and regulatory approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for emergency use of the gas concentrator.
“We have sought the institute’s help in developing an audit mechanism and ways for optimal utilisation of medical oxygen and minimise its wastage at refilling or bottling units and at hospitals,” Sudhakar was quoted by the agency.
According to the director, the vaccine that is being developed at the institute showed better neutralising effect than other vaccines in use.
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