Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a leading vaccine manufacturer, has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the clinical development of a Zika virus vaccine. According to the agreement, ICMR will fund the Phase I clinical trials, covering expenses related to the trial’s conduct, investigations, and monitoring. These trials will take place at ICMR network sites across India.
Dr. K Anand Kumar, Managing Director of IIL, expressed pride in the collaboration with ICMR, highlighting IIL’s significant role in helping India achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production. He emphasized the importance of developing affordable, safe, and effective vaccines to protect people from emerging diseases. Dr. Kumar also noted that IIL’s work on novel vaccine platforms, including codon de-optimized viral vaccines, is progressing well.
ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl praised the collaboration as an important step towards India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in healthcare (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and advancing towards a developed nation (Viksit Bharat). Dr. Bahl emphasized the value of ICMR’s Phase I trial network, launched in 2023, which enables early-stage safety studies for innovative and affordable medical technologies in India. The network includes four fully operational Phase-I trial sites: ACTREC Mumbai, KEM Hospital Mumbai, SRM Chennai, and PGIMER Chandigarh.
Dr. Priyabrata Pattnaik, Deputy Managing Director of IIL, said that the company is actively working on vaccines for several emerging viral diseases, including Zika, Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), Chikungunya, and a SARS-CoV-2 intranasal booster. He mentioned that IIL partnered with Griffith University in Australia to develop a codon de-optimized live-attenuated Zika vaccine, which has completed pre-clinical evaluations. The vaccine has also received permission from Indian regulatory authorities to proceed with clinical development.
Zika virus is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes but can also be spread during pregnancy, through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and organ transplants. While the disease is usually mild and does not require specific treatment, it can cause serious complications if contracted during pregnancy, including microcephaly and other birth defects. Additionally, some cases may result in Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological disorder.
As of July 22, 2024, India has reported 537 Zika cases across multiple states. Currently, no vaccine is available for the prevention of Zika virus.
