ICMR, IIL Move Ahead With Development Of New Kyasanur Forest Disease Vaccine
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is making steady progress in developing an improved vaccine against Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a regional viral infection prevalent in the Western Ghats across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra.
The vaccine development programme was initiated by ICMR at the request of the Karnataka government. Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) and the ICMR–National Institute of Virology (NIV) are jointly developing a fully indigenous, two-dose, adjuvanted inactivated KFD vaccine, with doses administered 28 days apart.
The vaccine has been successfully developed and has completed animal challenge and toxicity studies. Manufacturing of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)–grade vaccine material has also been completed. Following approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), a Phase I human clinical trial has been initiated.
Subject to successful outcomes from the Phase I trial, further clinical studies will be undertaken. If the vaccine is found to be safe and capable of generating an adequate immune response, regulatory approval will be sought from CDSCO.
The Government of India has reiterated its commitment to supporting state governments in addressing complex public health challenges, including the control and prevention of region-specific infectious diseases such as Kyasanur Forest Disease.
