Key Advancements Made by IVMA Members in 2024

Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune, Maharashtra:

• January 23, 2024: SII joined the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) global network, boosting its capacity to produce affordable vaccines for future public health emergencies, with a focus on the Global South.
• February 1, 2024: Phase 3 trial data for the R21/Matrix-M™ Malaria Vaccine confirmed its high efficacy and safety in African children, leading to regulatory approvals across several African nations.
• April 2, 2024: SII announced a collaboration with Bharat Biotech and Bilthoven Biologicals B.V. to enhance the production and supply of Oral Polio Vaccines.
• April 12, 2024: SII partnered with Univercells to make personalized oncology treatments affordable and accessible, expanding cancer care globally.
• April 16, 2024: A licensing agreement between SII and the University of Oxford was signed to develop a Meningitis-B Vaccine aimed at improving global access to life-saving Meningitis Vaccines.
• May 3, 2024: SII secured an exclusive arrangement with ImmunityBio for the global supply of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccines, addressing chronic shortages and supporting bladder cancer treatment.
• May 17, 2024: SII made a strategic investment by acquiring a 20% stake in IntegriMedical, an Indian company pioneering Needle-Free Injection System (N-FIS) technology.
• May 20, 2024: SII shipped its first doses of the R21/Matrix-M™ Malaria Vaccine to Africa, marking a significant milestone in the fight against malaria.
• May 31, 2024: TIME magazine included SII in its 2024 ‘Most Influential Companies’ list, acknowledging its pivotal role in shaping global health policy.
• August 29, 2024: Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, discussed the company’s post-COVID expansion plans in an interview with Bloomberg TV, emphasizing its commitment to meeting global vaccine needs.

Biological E. Limited, Hyderabad, Telangana:

• January 16, 2024: Biological E. Limited’s COVID-19 Vaccine, CORBEVAX, received WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL), making it India’s first heterologous COVID-19 booster for adults aged 18 and above.
• February 27, 2024: Partnering with Takeda, Biological E. began manufacturing up to 50 million doses of the QDENGA Dengue Vaccine annually, contributing to global Dengue control.
• March 20, 2024: In collaboration with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Biological E. initiated the technology transfer for an Oral Cholera Vaccine aimed at India and global markets.
• July 30, 2024: BE’s Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) received WHO Pre-Qualification (PQ) status, advancing global efforts to eradicate polio.
• July 30, 2024: Phase 3 results of PNEUBEVAX 14™, a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, were published in Vaccine journal, showing safety and immunogenicity in infants with coverage of 14 serotypes.

Panacea Biotec Limited, New Delhi:

August 14, 2024: Panacea Biotec, in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial for DengiAll, a Vaccine aimed at preventing Dengue fever.

Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad, Telangana:

• March 24, 2024: Bharat Biotech began clinical trials for MTBVAC, the first Tuberculosis Vaccine derived from a human source, marking a key development in TB prevention.
• April 2, 2024: Bharat Biotech announced its collaboration with Bilthoven Biologicals B.V. to strengthen the production and global supply of Oral Polio Vaccines.
• April 26, 2024: During a visit, the Vice-President of India highlighted Bharat Biotech’s role in Vaccine research and public health innovation.
• May 24, 2024: Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman of Bharat Biotech, received Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School’s Highest Medal of Honour for his outstanding contributions to public health.
• August 27, 2024: Bharat Biotech launched HILLCHOL®, a next-generation Oral Cholera Vaccine, while expanding its manufacturing capacity to address global Cholera Vaccine shortages.
• September 11, 2024: Bharat Biotech entered a partnership with Alopexx to develop AV0328, a broad-spectrum Antimicrobial Vaccine targeting drug-resistant infections.
• September 28, 2024: Bharat Biotech collaborated with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to restore historic stepwells at Ammapalli Temple and Salar Jung Museum in Telangana, supporting cultural heritage conservation.

Indian Immunological Limited (IIL), Hyderabad, Telangana:

• January 19, 2024: IIL launched Havisure, India’s first indigenously developed Hepatitis A Vaccine, priced at ₹2,150 per shot.
• July 6, 2024: IIL conducted a nationwide Anti-Rabies Vaccination drive, vaccinating over 100,000 dogs to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases.
• July 17, 2024: IIL donated 10,000 doses of Anti-Rabies Vaccines to Vietnam and advanced its Zika Vaccine development, with clinical trials soon to begin.
• August 27, 2024: IIL announced the development of a needle-free COVID-19 Intranasal Vaccine, addressing the continued global threat of COVID-19.
• August 29, 2024: IIL partnered with ICAR-CIBA to further its work on Fish Vaccines, aimed at boosting aquaculture productivity.
• September 5, 2024: IIL launched a paediatric version of Havisure (Hepatitis A Vaccine), offering expanded immunization options for children.
• September 11, 2024: IIL collaborated with ICMR to develop India’s first codon-deoptimized live attenuated Zika Vaccine.
• September 13, 2024: IIL introduced IVF media for bovine embryo transfer, making IVF technology more accessible to farmers.
• September 28, 2024: IIL continued its work against Rabies with the development of a bi-valent human monoclonal antibody and supported Kerala’s Anti-Rabies campaign.