The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has reissued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for the development and manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies against Nipah virus disease to eligible Indian organisations, companies and manufacturers.
The renewed EoI (No. E/252645/CD/2025) was republished on 9 December 2025, with the last date for proposal submission set for today.
The call invites proposals for joint collaboration in research, development and production of monoclonal antibodies that can be further developed, manufactured, sold or commercialised for public health use. ICMR plans to grant interested parties rights to undertake these activities on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis for broader societal benefit.
The EoI document outlines the scope of work, including technology transfer and collaboration processes, and states that ICMR and its institutes will provide technical guidance, expert oversight, planning support, study protocol development, data analysis, outcomes assessment, safety and efficacy evaluation, and support for R&D and clinical studies through its affiliated institutes such as the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, which has BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities.
The background section of the reissued EoI notes that Nipah virus (NiV) is a recurring zoonotic threat in India with multiple outbreaks since 2001, including in Kerala in 2025, and that no licensed vaccine or antiviral treatment exists. It cites the high mortality rate of the virus and describes monoclonal antibodies as the most promising therapeutic option currently, with candidates such as m102.4 shown to provide protection in animal models and used in compassionate protocols abroad.
The EoI sets out pre-qualification criteria for prospective collaborators. Proponents must be legal entities registered in India with a manufacturing unit, laboratory infrastructure, relevant quality certifications, and proven proof of concept or preclinical studies for Nipah monoclonal antibodies. Applicants must also demonstrate production capacity to produce at least 1 lakh doses per week and commit to stockpiling 400-500 doses for emergency use once regulatory approval is obtained.
The document details requirements for intellectual property rights, data ownership, submission formats, evaluation methodology and rejection criteria. ICMR reserves the right to cancel the EoI, amend terms, or invite fresh proposals. Contact details for scientific enquiries include officials at ICMR-NIV Pune and the National Institute of One Health, Nagpur.
This reissued EoI reflects ICMR’s intent to accelerate indigenous development and manufacturing capability of monoclonal antibodies against Nipah virus and enhance national preparedness for potential outbreaks.
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