Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) has announced the launch of HILLCHOL (BBV131), a novel single-strain Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV). Developed under a license from Hilleman Laboratories, which is funded by Merck (USA) and Wellcome Trust (UK), HILLCHOL marks a significant advancement in the fight against cholera, a life-threatening disease affecting millions globally.
Currently, there is only one global supplier of oral cholera vaccines, leading to an annual shortage of approximately 40 million doses. To address this gap, Bharat Biotech has established large-scale manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar with the capacity to produce up to 200 million doses of HILLCHOL per year.
Cholera, though preventable and treatable, has seen a rise in cases and fatalities since 2021. From January to March 2023, 824,479 cases and 5,900 deaths were reported across 31 countries. HILLCHOL offers a crucial solution to combat this growing health crisis.
The vaccine is administered orally on Day 0 and Day 14, and is suitable for individuals older than one year. It comes in a single-dose respule and must be stored at temperatures between +2°C and +8°C. HILLCHOL is presented in a mono-multidose format, making it one of the first vaccines to use this innovative presentation.
This launch is the result of a collaborative effort between Hilleman Laboratories, Bharat Biotech, the University of Gothenburg, and Gotovax AB, reflecting a shared commitment to global health equity through affordable and sustainable solutions for cholera prevention.
