Johnson & Johnson will not be conducting local trials in India for its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, a spokesperson of the US-based pharma company said on 29 June.

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"As per the recent announcement by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), there is no longer a requirement to conduct bridging clinical studies of COVID-19 vaccines in India," Johnson & Johnson, India spokesperson told. The DCGI recently announced that COVID-19 vaccines, which were approved for restricted use by drug regulators in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Japan, or which were in the list of WHO'S emergency use listing would not have to go for bridging trials in India.

The company also said that it is in discussions with the government of India. "We are in ongoing discussions with the Government of India and are exploring how best to accelerate our ability to deliver the Johnson & Johnson single dose COVID-19 vaccine to the people of India," DCGI said.