A new coronavirus, designated 2019-nCoV, was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, in late 2019/early January 2020 for the first time. Subsequently, several countries across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific started reporting cases of coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This led to WHO declaring COVID-19 as a global pandemic and the Central Government of India declaring the pandemic as a “notified disaster” under the Disaster Management Act, 2015. Many Indian manufacturers ventured into the development of vaccine(s) against COVID-19 either using in-house expertise or technology transfer from academic partners in India or abroad. On similar lines, Zydus Lifesciences ventured into the development of a COVID-19 vaccine using in-house capabilities on the highest priority for use by masses. Considering, the urgency, available literature and infrastructure, a plasmid DNA vaccine targeting the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus was considered to be a suitable option. It is noteworthy, to mention that until that time primarily DNA vaccines for other coronaviral diseases like SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV had progressed successfully in clinical trials globally Both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1 DNA vaccines were found to be safe and well-tolerated in humans. MERS-CoV DNA vaccine had a seroconversion rate of 94% in vaccinated volunteers, whereas, the SARS-CoV-1 DNA vaccine induced antibody response in 80% subjects (Modjarrad et al., Lancet Infect Dis 19(9):1013–22, 2019; Martin et al.,Vaccine 26(50):6338–43,2008). The plasmid DNA vaccine platform had numerous potential advantages over traditional vaccines in terms of effectiveness, safety, and cost.