Finance
Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), a pharmaceutical company, has announced the launch of an oral cholera vaccine (OCV) to battle cholera, which remains a huge global public health concern, particularly in places with inadequate sanitation.
Hillchol (BBV131) is a unique single-strain oral cholera vaccine (OCV) produced under license from Hilleman Laboratories to treat cholera, representing a significant advancement in world health. It will be taken orally on days 0 and 14. It is appropriate for infants older than one year.
Bharat Biotech claimed in a statement that the vaccine was developed under license from Singapore-based Hilleman Laboratories, and that large-scale manufacturing facilities had been created in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar with a potential to produce up to 200 million doses.
“Vaccines provide the best intervention to prevent, limit, and control cholera outbreaks Our new large-scale cGMP production facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar will significantly enhance our production and supply capabilities for this Oral Cholera Vaccine, advancing our efforts to combat cholera globally,” said Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech.
While cholera is preventable and treatable, global cases and deaths have risen steadily since 2021. From early 2023 to March this year, 824,479 cases and 5,900 deaths were reported in 31 countries.
While global demand for OCVs exceeds 100 million doses per year, only one manufacturer now supplies OCVs worldwide, resulting in an annual shortage of around 40 million doses.
The new vaccine will close the gap and significantly contribute to the Global Task Force on Cholera Control’s (GTFCC) aim of reducing cholera-related mortality by 90% by 2030, in addition to improvements in water and sanitation facilities.
Pre-clinical, Phase I, II, and III clinical studies have all demonstrated HILLCHOL’s safety and efficacy, according to the business.
“A multi-stage clinical evaluation process, culminating in a Phase III study, confirmed the vaccine’s safety, immunogenicity, and non-inferiority to existing OCVs, establishing its potential for widespread public health use,” it added.
HILLCHOL vaccine is available as a single-dose respule and should be refrigerated at +2 to +8 degrees Celsius. It is also given in a mono-multidose formulation, which is one of the first of its kind for vaccines.
Source:IANS
