Listen to Story Bharat Biotech has introduced a new oral cholera vaccine. Developed under license from Hilleman Laboratories, the BBV131 vaccine, called HILLCHOL, can combat cholera amid rising global cases and a vaccine shortage. According to the company, there is an oral vaccine shortage as the world faces an annual deficit of approximately 40 million doses.
Bharat Biotech began large-scale manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar, capable of producing up to 200 million vaccine doses. HILLCHOL's safety and efficacy have been rigorously tested in pre-clinical and Phase I and Phase II clinical studies. A multi-stage clinical evaluation process, culminating in a Phase III study, confirmed the vaccine's safety, immunogenicity and non-inferiority to existing oral cholera vaccines.
Despite being preventable and treatable, cholera cases and deaths have surged since 2021 . In the first three months of 2023 alone, 31 countries reported 8,24,479 cases and 5,900 deaths. Cholera is a severe bacterial infection caused by Vibrio cholerae, typically spread through contaminated water or food.
It leads to acute diarrhea, dehydration, and can be fatal if untreated. It is most common in areas with poor sanitation, and its rapid spread is often linked to overcrowded conditions and natural disasters. HILLCHOL, administered orally on Day 0 and Day 14, is suitable for individuals over age 1.
It comes in a single-dose respule and should be stored between 2 degrees Celsius and 8 degrees Celsius. The vaccine is presented in a mono-multidose format, one of the first such presentations for vaccines . Dr Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, emphasised the importance of vaccines in preventing cholera outbreaks.
"HILLCHOL is a success story of partnership leading to public health solutions," he said. As per the company, the launch of HILLCHOL could reduce cholera-related deaths by 90% by 2030, in line with the goals of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC). This initiative further complements the government's ongoing improvements in water and sanitation infrastructure.
While the cholera vaccine offers crucial protection, it is not a substitute for other preventive measures. Cholera remains a serious public health challenge, particularly in areas with poor sanitation, where the disease spreads through contaminated water and food, often exacerbated by natural disasters and overcrowded living conditions..
