New Hope in Cholera Fight, Bharat Biotech Launches Oral Vaccine HILLCHOL

Bharat Biotech (BBIL) has introduced HILLCHOL (BBV131), an oral cholera vaccine developed under a licensing agreement with Hilleman Laboratories. This vaccine is a crucial step in addressing the global shortage of oral cholera vaccines, which currently experiences a shortfall of around 40 million doses each year due to limited production capabilities.

Extensive testing, including pre-clinical and Phase I, II, and III clinical trials, has confirmed that HILLCHOL is safe, effective, and comparable to existing vaccines. To help bridge the gap in global supply, Bharat Biotech has established large-scale production facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar, with the capability to produce up to 200 million doses annually.

Dr Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, said in a statement, “Vaccines provide the best intervention to prevent, limit, and control cholera outbreaks. HILLCHOL is an excellent success story of partnership leading to public health solutions. Our new large-scale cGMP production facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar will significantly enhance our production and supply capabilities for this Oral Cholera Vaccine, advancing our efforts to combat Cholera globally.”

HILLCHOL is given orally in two doses—one on Day 0 and another on Day 14—and is recommended for individuals over one year of age. The vaccine is available in a mono-multidose format and needs to be stored at temperatures between +2°C and +8°C. This launch supports the Global Task Force on Cholera Control's mission to decrease cholera-related deaths by 90% by 2030.

Dr. Ella also conveyed appreciation to Bharat Biotech’s collaborators and regulatory authorities, saying, “I congratulate the team at Bharat Biotech, our partners for developing this novel vaccine and thankful to the CDSCO, Govt of India, and WHO Geneva, for their regulatory guidance and support.”

Cholera continues to be a major public health issue, especially in areas with poor sanitation. The introduction of HILLCHOL, made possible through partnerships with Hilleman Laboratories, the University of Gothenburg, and Gotovax AB, represents a significant advancement in global efforts to prevent cholera. Despite this progress, the vaccine should be used alongside other preventive measures to effectively combat the disease.