Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has teamed up with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to create India’s first Zika virus vaccine. They signed an agreement to work together on this project. Their main goal is to begin phase I clinical trials, which will check if the vaccine is safe and works well in humans.
ICMR will cover the costs of these trials. This includes managing the trials, keeping track of the participants, and doing tests to see how the vaccine works. The trials will take place in different locations across India to ensure a thorough examination of the vaccine.
ICMR’s Trial Network
ICMR has a network of places across India where early-stage trials, like phase I clinical trials, happen. These trials for the Zika vaccine will be held at four places:
- ACTREC in Mumbai
- KEM Hospital in Mumbai
- SRM in Chennai
- PGIMER in Chandigarh
This network helps Indian scientists test vaccines in the country without needing to go abroad.
Collaboration with Griffith University
In addition to working with ICMR, IIL is partnering with Griffith University in Australia for the Zika vaccine. The vaccine has already passed several tests before being tried on humans. The project has also received approval to make safe, high-quality vaccine materials.
IIL’s Broader Vaccine Work
Indian Immunologicals is also working on vaccines for other diseases like:
- Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)
- Chikungunya
- A nasal spray booster for COVID-19
This shows IIL’s commitment to developing vaccines for new diseases that don’t have enough treatments yet.
What is Zika Virus?
The Zika virus spreads mainly through mosquito bites. Currently, there is no approved vaccine for Zika, which makes this new vaccine very important for public health.
About Indian Immunologicals
Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), founded in 1982, is one of India’s largest vaccine makers. It was the first company in India to make a Hepatitis B vaccine. IIL produces vaccines for both people and animals, including important ones like:
- Rabies
- DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus)
- Typhoid
IIL is part of the National Dairy Development Board and has over 15 factories in India. It is also involved in research and development (R&D), helping India improve its vaccination programs.
About the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Founded in 1911, ICMR is one of the oldest medical research organizations in the world. It works under the Department of Health Research of the Government of India. Based in New Delhi, ICMR runs 26 institutes across the country. It played a key role in getting rid of polio in India and was heavily involved in developing COVID-19 vaccines. ICMR is part of many global health efforts and launched the National Health Portal in 2015 to provide health information to the public.
