Bharat Biotech

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Bharat Biotech is an Indian vaccines and bio-therapeutic manufacturer based in Hyderabad, India.

Vaccine for Zika virus

On February 3, 2016 Bharat Biotech has announced a breakthrough in developing the world's first Zika vaccine. The company unveiled ZIKAVAC First Vaccine Candidate for Zika Virus.

Viral pathogens for the Zika virus strains have been sequenced. The company announced that it had submitted two vaccine candidates to the government - one inactivated and one recombinant. Pre-clinical studies would be concluded in the next five months, the company said. Once the pre-clinical studies are completed, the company would initiate the process for regulatory approval. The necessary information was submitted to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The company is developing two vaccines - an inactivated vaccine and a recombinant vaccine.

  • An inactivated vaccine consists of the disease-causing microbe killed with chemicals, heat, or radiation.
  • A recombinant vaccine is produced through the recombinant DNA technology. This involves inserting the DNA encoding an antigen that stimulates an immune response.

The two candidates submitted to the government were in an advanced stage of development and could be ready soon. The company would be able to start the preclinical animal trial phase of one of the two candidates in two weeks. The company hopes to get the necessary approvals for trials soon as the Zika vrius is a pandemic situation.

The company had begun working on the vaccine in July 2015. The patent for the vaccine was registered with the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks in July 2015.

Key People

  • Krishna Ella - Chairman and Managing Director
  • Dr. Sumathy - Director of Research and Development

See Also