The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) today announced their partnership to develop indigenous vaccine for COVID-19. The virus strain isolated at ICMR's National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune will be used to develop the vaccine. "ICMR-NIV will provide continuous support to Bharat Biotech for vaccine development," ICMR said in a statement.