The desi version of the swine flu vaccine 'Fluvac' that is being made by the Pune-based Serum India is expected to be out for commercial use by the month of May-June 2010.

The company has already bagged a go-ahead signal from the regulators to run for the Phase II/III clinical trials which are considered to be crucial for the introduction of the drug to the Indian market.

In fact, Serum is only the second company to enter the Phase II/III after the Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila, getting the dead line of the commercial use of the drug even closer. The company has already started its clinical trials on over 200 subjects at different locations in the country. The drug is expected to be out in two different forms i. e. injectible and as nasal spray. The age groups of the subjects have been divided into three different categories i. e.
9-19 years, 20-48 years and 48 years and above.

While it will be first tested in the four major cities after release, it is expected to be priced around the Rs. 150-200 level, which is half the price of the global average of $9-$15.