Bharat Biotech announced the launch of HILLCHOL in August 2024, describing the novel single-strain oral cholera vaccine (OCV) as a “significant advancement in global health”. With only one manufacturer supplying OCVs globally, there is a yearly deficit of ~40 million doses. Thus, Bharat Biotech has established manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar with the capacity to produce “up to 200 million doses” of the vaccine. HILLCHOL is administered orally on Day 0 and Day 14 to individuals older than one year.
HILLCHOL
Hilleman Laboratories compares HILLCHOL with existing cholera vaccines, which contain more than one strain; HILLCHOL uses a single, genetically engineered, inactivated ‘Hikojima’ strain, which reduces production costs and will expand access amid increasing outbreaks. HILLCHOL is presented in a mono-multidose format and should be stored at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C. It is intended to contribute “substantially” to the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTCC) effort of reducing cholera-related deaths by 90% for 2030. The vaccine is the result of “extensive” international collaboration.
Dr Krishna Ella, Executive Chair of Bharat Biotech, states that it is an “excellent success story of partnership leading to public health solutions”.
“Vaccines provide the best intervention to prevent, limit, and control cholera outbreaks.”
With new large-scale cGMP production facilities, Dr Ella is confident that Bharat Biotech’s production and supply capabilities are “significantly” enhanced. Hilleman Laboratories’ CEO, Dr Raman Rao, commented that “from day one our mission has been to develop affordable vaccines and biologics” for “countries with the most severe unmet medical needs”.
“This new vaccine delivers on that pledge and provides an innovative template for the internationalisation of future vaccine and biologics development from Singapore, that can positively impact global health.”
Dr Rao highlighted the pride that Hilleman Laboratories takes in the “joint effort” and ongoing “dedication to advancing global health equity through affordable, high-impact, and sustainable solutions for those who are most susceptible”.
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