Hilleman Laboratories receives Swedish grant for oral cholera vaccine

Hilleman Laboratories, a joint-venture partnership between US drug maker MSD and Wellcome Trust has received 6 million krona grant from Vinnova, a Swedish agency that funds innovative projects and India’s Department of Biotechnology to advance research for its oral cholera vaccine HILLCHOL. Besides funding, the project will look at knowledge exchange and transfer of scientists from India and Sweden.

The World Health Organisation estimates that there are nearly every year there are roughly 1.3 to 4 million cases Cholera cases globally and cause of nearly 21 000 to 143 000 deaths globally.

Hileman labs said that The OCV developed by Hilleman Labs would make mass vaccination a reality in Cholera endemic zones due to ease of manufacturing and low cost, which would improve vaccine affordability and accessibility.

“Our partnership with DBT and Vinnova is a step in a new direction. We are gratified by the grant awarded to us, which will help us develop capabilities through cross-border partnerships,” said Dr Davinder Gill, CEO Hilleman Labs.

The grant is expected to incentivize advancement of clinical R&D against diseases that disproportionately affect poor countries.

Hillman said cholera continues to be a serious health problem and there is high prevalence of the diseases due to global conflict, natural disasters, poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water. Affordable and low-cost vaccines will help in reducing the burden of disease and contribute to Cholera control efforts.