Vaccine maker Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), on Monday said it has received approvals from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and state drug controller to manufacture and market measles-rubella (MR) vaccine.

The MR vaccine was developed by Hyderabad-based IIL in exclusive partnership with Vietnam’s state owned Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals, also called Polyvac, Vietnam.

As per the agreement, Polyvac, will supply the measles component to IIL. Rubella will be produced by IIL to manufacture a combined MR vaccine.

IIL’s MR vaccine is based on live attenuated (live but weakened virus) adds to the list of several other vaccines that IIL supplies to Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) of India.

The vaccine underwent extensive human clinical trials to be immunogenic and safe for people of 9 months to 49 years. Measles, a highly contagious disease that causes severe, sometimes permanent, complications including pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death.
There is no specific antiviral drug available to treat measles. The best way is to prevent through vaccination.

Measles kills nearly 50,000 children every year in India. As there is not enough evidence to suggest that mumps is a disease of public health importance, MR vaccine is being used instead of MMR vaccine in India for routine immunization.

“We started with humble beginnings with Polyvac in 2016 and worked tirelessly throughout including the tough Covid-19 period,” said Dr K Anand Kumar, managing director of IIL.

“We have successfully completed all phases of product development to the satisfaction of the regulatory authorities in India” Kumar added. IIL is promoted by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).