Bharat Biotech to launch oral cholera vaccine amid global shortage

Indian vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech said on Tuesday its phase 3 trials of an oral cholera vaccine proved that it’s safe for public use, and blazoned a global launch amid force dearths and an expanding outbreak. The company, which developed Hillchol under license from Singapore- grounded Hilleman Laboratories, said it’s launching the vaccine with a capacity to produce 200 million boluses.

Bharat Biotech is set to begin manufacturing at its Hyderabad factory, which has the capacity to produce 45 million boluses per time, and is presently seeking blessing for a alternate installation in order to increase product to 200 million boluses. A source familiar with the situation informed Reuters that roughly$ 100 million was allocated for the construction of installations for Hillchol product. Bharat Biotech declined to reveal the quantum of the investment.

The company blazoned that the vaccine, tested in a late- stage trial with roughly 3,600 actors in India, was determined to be safe and just as effective as current oral vaccines, but did n’t give fresh information. The World Health Organization reported 249,793 cases of cholera and 2,137 losses across 25 countries in the first half of the time, a significant increase from the 166,442 cases and 69 deaths recorded in the same timeframe in 2023.

According to the WHO, this resulted in a request for 102 million doses of oral vaccines, which was twice the amount of 51 million that were manufactured. In a statement, Bharath Biotech announced a worldwide deficit of 40 million doses annually and aims to address it by providing Hillchol for individuals aged one and above. The vaccination, created with permission from Hilleman Laboratories in Singapore, will be given in two doses – one on day 0 and another on day 14.

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