Bharat Biotech Launches Oral Cholera Vaccine Amid Global Crisis

Hillchol Set to Boost Supply as Global Cholera Vaccine Shortage Worsens
Young woman taking medicine pill after doctor order
EuBiologics (South Korea) has been the sole supplier of the Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV), producing around 50 million doses annually, with plans to increase to 70 million doses by 2025.Representative Image: FreePik
Published on

In response to a severe global shortage of oral cholera vaccines, India-based Bharat Biotech is preparing to launch its newly developed vaccine, Hillchol. The move makes Bharat Biotech only the second manufacturer in the world to produce an oral cholera vaccine, joining South Korea’s EuBiologics, which currently has more than 80% of the market.

A major step in global cholera prevention

Demand for oral cholera vaccines is growing, with an estimated need of about 100 million doses annually. However, existing supply chains are being stretched. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently confirmed that global stocks have dried up, leaving millions of people vulnerable to the disease, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

Why is this vaccine so vital?
Cholera is the primary cause of about 2.86 million cases and 95,000 deaths each year. Access to a safe, efficacious vaccine becomes indispensable in controlling outbreaks, particularly in regions lacking access to clean water and sanitation.

Hillchol: Proved Safe and Effective

Hillchol completed a rigorous Phase III clinical trial study of Safety and Immunogenicity of Hillchol, which enrolled 1,800 subjects: infants, children, and adults from ten sites across India. The vaccine showed strong safety and immunity with mild, manageable side effects, similar to existing vaccines. Furthermore, it induced over fourfold antibody response in both major serotypes of cholera, Ogawa (68.3%) and Inaba (69.5%).

Stomachache concept illustration
2.9 million cases and 95,000 deaths are estimated globally each year due to cholera. Cholera is endemic in more than 47 countries, primarily in Africa and South Asia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)Representative Image: FreePik

These findings, as published in Vaccines on Science Direct, form a landmark for Bharat Biotech in its contribution to world health.

Manufacturing capacity set to transform supply

Bharat Biotech has significantly expanded its manufacturing capabilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar, enabling the production of a million doses of Hillchol annually, four times EuBiologics’ projected 2025 production.

Cholera is a vaccine-preventable disease. The new generation oral cholera vaccine Hillchol aims to enhance production efficiency and affordability, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries where waterborne diseases continue to pose serious health threats

Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech

Looking ahead: A new chapter in vaccine access

The introduction of Hillchol comes at a critical time, especially when cholera outbreaks are increasing and vaccine supplies are stretched thin. Its launch promises to reduce supply bottlenecks globally, improve outbreak response, and provide new hope for vulnerable populations.


(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)

Young woman taking medicine pill after doctor order
Can Switching to Potassium-Based Salt Substitutes Help Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Disease Risk?

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
Medbound
www.medboundtimes.com