Indian Immunologicals targets dengue vaccine launch by Jan 2026

Panacea Biotec

24/08/2023 07:21

By Rishika  Sadam
       HYDERABAD, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Vaccine manufacturer
Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) expects to commercially
launch its dengue fever vaccine by early 2026, a top executive
said, as the race to develop the country's first such vaccine
heats up. 
    Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, has over the last few
years become a major public health concern in India, with 31,464
dengue cases and 36 related deaths reported between January and
July 31, 2023. 
    While its spread had fallen during the pandemic, there was a
333% surge from 2020 to 2021 and a 21% rise in number of cases
between 2021 and 2022, according to the National Center for
Vector Borne Diseases Control.  
    IIL's managing director, K.Anand Kumar, said the vaccine's
early-stage trials conducted on about 90 individuals, aged 18-50
years, did not demonstrate any adverse effects.
    "We're about to complete Phase 1 trials and will proceed to
the next level. All of this will take at least two to three
years. So, we are looking at January 2026 for the vaccine's
commercial launch," Kumar said.
    The early-stage trials are about determining the safety
factor and efficacy to a small extent, Kumar said.
    U.S.-based National Institute of Health (NIH) has provided
IIL with the virus required for developing the vaccine, Kumar
added.
    Besides IIL, at least two other Indian companies - Serum
Institute of India and Panacea Biotec  PNCA.NS  - are working to
develop a dengue vaccine.
    Hyderabad-based IIL, which exports animal as well as human
vaccines to more than 50 countries, said its mainstay is the
manufacturing of rabies vaccines with its sales contributing
about 35% of the total.
    The company expects to clock in a total revenue of 13
billion rupees in 2023-2024. 
    
    
    

 (Reporting by Rishika  Sadam; Editing by Sohini Goswami)
 ((Rishika.S@thomsonreuters.com;))