Bharat Biotech International Ltd has launched a novel single-strain oral cholera vaccine (OCV) ‘Hillchol (BBV131)’.
- It has developed the vaccine under licence from Hilleman Laboratories.
Key points
- Hillchol is a two dose vaccine — administered orally on Day 0 and Day 14 — and suitable for children older than one year.
- It will be available as a single-dose respule and should be stored between plus 2-8°C. Hillchol is presented in a mono-multidose format, one of the first such presentations for vaccines.
- Bharat Biotech has been licenced by the Drug Controller General of India to market the vaccine manufactured at the Hyderabad facility.
- This approval from the country’s regulator is important as it gears up to seek pre-qualification for the vaccine from World Health Organization (WHO) as well as work with international organisations and vaccine alliances such as GAVI.
- There is a shortage of OCVs globally. At present, there is only one manufacturer supplying OCVs worldwide and a shortage of around 40 million doses annually.
- The oral cholera vaccine (OCV) is yet to form part of the national vaccination campaign in India.
