Hilleman
Davinder Gill, chief executive officer of Hilleman Laboratories with Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of of Bharat Biotech

Hilleman Laboratories, a global research and development organization focused on delivering high-impact and affordable vaccines, announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL), a leading vaccine and biotechnology company in India, for further development, manufacturing and commercialization of its next-generation Oral Cholera Vaccine, Hillchol. This collaboration will strengthen the ability of both organizations towards prevention of cholera through rapid and cost-effective deployment of vaccine doses in low and middle-income countries.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by Vibrio Cholerae and has been responsible for seven pandemics till date. A poverty-related endemic in South Asia and Africa, cholera is on the WHO priority list. Globally, cholera accounts for ~2.8 million cases and an estimated 95,000 deaths annually. In India, about 30% of the population (375 million people) remain at risk. Deployment of oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) are an essential public health component of comprehensive cholera prevention and control, recommended by the WHO and an element of its ‘End Cholera’ initiative.

Hillchol was designed at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and subsequently developed by Hilleman Labs including demonstration of safety and immunogenicity in an age deescalating Phase I and II clinical trial conducted in Bangladesh with the assistance of icddr, b and Incepta Vaccines. For further development of Hillchol, Hilleman Labs has entered into a licensing and manufacturing agreement with BBIL, who will scale the manufacturing process to commercial stage and establish product specifications required for WHO pre-qualification.

Jan Holmgren, professor, University of Gothenburg who along with his colleague Michael Lebens and their team invented the vaccine commented, “Hillchol contains a single recombinant Hikojima strain which expresses both Inaba and Ogawa antigens, resulting in a shorter and simpler manufacturing process as compared to licensed OCVs. Hillchol will therefore be of great importance and value to help to meet the urgent demands from cholera-afflicted countries for much expanded oral cholera vaccines manufacturing and supplies for the control of cholera globally.”

Speaking about the partnership, Davinder Gill, chief executive officer, Hilleman Laboratories said, “Vaccines play a critical role in improving healthcare outcomes globally, and Hilleman Laboratories is honored to work with Bharat Biotech, a leading vaccine manufacturer in India for development, and if licensed, eventual manufacturing and commercialization of our innovative oral cholera vaccine Hillchol. Availability of an affordable cholera vaccine is particularly significant considering that more than 50 GAVI eligible countries have been categorized as cholera-endemic. We hope this collaboration will provide an innovative vaccine solution which is both affordable and accessible.”

Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech International said, “We are delighted to lead the scale-up, development, manufacturing and commercialization efforts for Hillchol with our collaboration marking an important step. Our capacity to deliver 50 million doses per year and the addition of a WHO pre-qualification of Hillchol in the future, will not only solve the demand uncertainty but aid in affordability thereby resulting in the wider use of such a vital oral cholera vaccine worldwide.”

Gerd Zettlmeissl, chairman, Hilleman Laboratories congratulated both partners on entering into a collaboration agreement to align efforts and said, “By working together, we can move even closer to meeting the critical public health goal of reducing cholera burden by 90% by 2030, a key objective of WHO End Cholera initiative.”

Packaging South Asia — authentic, impactful and influential

An English-language packaging industry B2B platform in print and web, Packaging South Asia is in its 19th year of publication. We do not make any claims about being the best or the most widely read. However, if you are interested in targeting the Indian and South Asian markets to sell equipment, technology, software, and consumables, we can help.

To improve your marketing and grow sales, talk to us. Our research and consulting company IppStar [www.ippstar.org] can assess your potential and addressable markets in light of the competition. We can discuss marketing, communication, and sales strategies for market entry and growth.

Suppliers and service providers with a strategy and budget for targeted marketing can discuss using our hybrid print, web, video, and social media channels to create brand recognition linked to market relevance. Our platform and channels are differentiated by hands-on practice and an understanding of business and financials. Our team, including some of the best technical writers, is ready to meet you and your customers for content.

India and South Asia’s fast-growing packaging industry is continuously expanding capacities with efficiency and appropriate innovative technologies. Get our 2025 media kit and recalibrate your role in this dynamic market. Enhance your visibility and relevance to existing markets and turn potential customers into conversations. Ask for a sample copy of our monthly or two weekly packaging eZines.

For editorial info@ippgroup.in — for advertisement ads1@ippgroup.in and for subscriptions subscription@ippgroup.in

Naresh Khanna – 21 January 2025

Subscribe Now
unnamed 1

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our Newsletter

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here