Bharat Biotech has introduced a new oral vaccine for cholera. Developed under license from Hilleman Laboratories, the BBV131 vaccine, called HILLCHOL, can fight cholera amid rising cases and vaccine shortages globally.

According to the company, there is a shortage of the oral vaccine, as the world faces a shortage of about 40 million doses annually.

Bharat Biotech commissioned large-scale manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar, capable of producing 200 million vaccine doses.

The safety and efficacy of Hilchol have been rigorously tested in pre-clinical and Phase I and Phase II clinical studies. The multi-stage clinical evaluation process culminating in a Phase III study confirmed the vaccine’s safety, immunogenicity, and non-inferiority compared to existing oral cholera vaccines.

Despite being preventable and treatable, cholera cases and deaths have increased since 2021. In the first three months of 2023 alone, 8,24,479 cases and 5,900 deaths were reported in 31 countries.

Cholera is a serious bacterial infection caused by Vibrio cholerae, usually spread through contaminated water or food. It leads to acute diarrhea, dehydration, and can be fatal if left untreated. It is most common in areas with poor sanitation, and its rapid spread is often associated with overcrowded conditions and natural disasters.

Hilchol, a medicine given orally on day 0 and day 14, is suitable for individuals over 1 year of age.

It comes in single-dose respulses and must be stored between 2°C and 8°C. The vaccine is presented in a mono-multidose format, one of the first such presentations for a vaccine.

Bharat Biotech Executive Chairman Dr. Krishna Ella stressed the importance of vaccines in preventing cholera outbreaks.

“HillCall is a success story of partnerships leading to public health solutions,” he said.

According to the company, the launch of Hilchol could reduce cholera-related deaths by 90% by 2030, which is in line with the goals of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC).

This initiative will further the government’s ongoing reforms in water and sanitation infrastructure.

Although cholera vaccine provides significant protection, it is not a substitute for other preventive measures.

Cholera remains a serious public health challenge, especially in areas with poor sanitation, where the disease spreads through contaminated water and food, and is often exacerbated by natural disasters and crowded living conditions.