Intercell Launches Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine In India

Austrian vaccine maker Intercell AG announced this week the launch of its Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in India.

AsianScientist (Sep. 14, 2012) – Austrian vaccine maker Intercell AG announced this week the launch of its Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in India.

The vaccine, which is sold under the product name JEEV® in India, is manufactured by Intercell’s partner Biological E. Ltd. at its facility in Hyderabad, India.

In 2005, Intercell and Biological E. signed a contract for the development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution in India and the Indian subcontinent of Intercell’s Japanese Encephalitis vaccine.

“With the market launch in India we have taken a major step forward in achieving our goal of rolling-out this Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in endemic countries with a high medical need in order to protect children and adults against this terrible disease,” said Thomas Lingelbach, Chief Executive Officer of Intercell AG.

Japanese Encephalitis is endemic in Asia and Southeast Asia, and in 2005, an epidemic outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh, India, and Nepal killed more than 1,200 children.

The initial approval age groups of the vaccine are children (1-3 years of age) and adults (18-49 years of age). First deliveries of JEEV® are planned between mid-September and beginning of October, with full scale commercial manufacturing commencing shortly thereafter.

Novartis will be responsible for marketing and distributing the vaccine in other Asian territories, pending approval from the World Health Organization. The vaccine is already sold in Europe, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Israel (IXIARO®) and Australia (JESPECT®).

——

Source: Intercell; Photo: dullhunk/Flickr/CC.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Asian Scientist Magazine is an award-winning science and technology magazine that highlights R&D news stories from Asia to a global audience. The magazine is published by Singapore-headquartered Wildtype Media Group.

Related Stories from Asian Scientist