The Hindu : Other States / Maharashtra News : New rabies vaccine launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 29, 2004

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Other States - Maharashtra

New rabies vaccine launched

MUMBAI, OCT. 28. Pune-based Serum Institute of India, the largest manufacturer of vaccines in India, launched a rabies vaccine `Rabivax' today.

"Rabivax is the only indigenously developed Human Diploid Cell (HDC) rabies vaccine in India'', said Chairman of Serum Institute Dr Cyrus Poonawalla at a press conference to announce the launch here today.

Compared to other tissue culture vaccines, the HDC products are considered the best as they offer better protection and very high safety standards, Dr Poonawalla said adding that from the safety point of view, even pregnant women could take the vaccine.

Dr Poonawalla said, ``Even though there were offers to sell the vaccine abroad at double the price, we have priced Rabivax at Rs 293 to ensure its reach to the majority of Indians.''

According to Dr Bharadwaj, Medical Director of the Institute, considered a world leader in vaccines for measles and DTP (Diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussia), `Rabivax' could be taken by even those who were allergic to vaccine components as this HDC vaccine completely eliminated such risks.

Free of antibiotics like Neomycin, Streptomycin, Kanamhycin and Polymyxsin-B, it is boon for people who are allergic to such compounds and also to those who are allergic to eggs and avian proteins, found in other vaccines, Dr Bharadwaj claimed.

``Rabivax,'' Dr Bharadwaj said, ``has undergone several clinical trials involving around 200 patients and more than 1,000 doses of the vaccine. It has a very low reactogenicity as shown by a study of 1,608 patients and more than 4,180 doses.''

Dr Poonawalla said considering the low cost, as compared with other available vaccines, the vaccine's sale was not a concern. ``In fact, we have to ensure upgrading the production facility.''

According to the company profile, the Rs 500-crore Serum Institute, which is the country's leading exporter of vaccines to 130 countries, plans to diversify into wider ranger of vaccinology including Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA technology.

Rabies is a viral disease in animals which can be transmitted to humans through close contact with the saliva of the infected animal. It is said to claim more than 20,000 lives annually in India and an estimated 17 million people are bitten by animals every year in the country and thus exposed to the dangerous disease. -- UNI

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New rabies vaccine launched