The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
HYDERABAD, JAN 20, 2024
Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), a prominent biopharmaceutical company, has introduced Havisure, India’s first indigenously developed Hepatitis A vaccine. This significant achievement is geared towards safeguarding against the highly contagious liver infection, transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water.
The two-dose inactivated virus vaccine is designed for pediatric, adolescent, and adult use. The development of this vaccine spanned eight years, with the company facing delays due to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, Havisure was successfully rolled out in Hyderabad on Friday, with each dose priced at Rs 2,150, as mentioned in an official statement by IIL.
This homegrown vaccine assumes a pivotal role in addressing the public health challenge posed by Hepatitis A, known for its highly contagious nature and transmission through the fecal-oral route. The virus primarily spreads through the ingestion of contaminated food or water.
The intramuscular injectable vaccine requires two doses administered six months apart. Rigorous testing was conducted on over 500 volunteers, including infants as young as 12 months, adolescents, and adults up to 49 years of age. The Phase II/III human clinical trials were conducted in various cities, including Hyderabad, Mysuru, Pune, Chandigarh, Vizag, and Kolkata, according to IIL.
During the launch event, Dr. K Anand Kumar, Managing Director of Indian Immunologicals Ltd, emphasized, “The launch of Havisure is a testament to our commitment to advancing healthcare solutions for the nation. Currently, Hepatitis A vaccines are imported into our country, and as a true manifestation of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, IIL has tirelessly put in efforts and developed India’s 1st vaccine for Hepatitis A. With Havisure, we aim to contribute significantly to the prevention of this infectious disease.”
