Biological E’s New Polio Vaccine Gets WHO Approval
Biological E Limited (BE), a vaccine and pharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad, announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has granted pre-qualification status to their new oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). This is the 10th pre-qualified vaccine from BE.
The nOPV2 vaccine is designed to reduce the risk of circulating vaccine-derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks. It has improved genetic stability compared to its predecessor, the Sabin poliovirus type 2 (mOPV2) vaccine, making it less likely to cause new outbreaks in low-immunity areas.
Extensive clinical trials have shown that nOPV2 is safe and effective. The vaccine has also been successfully used in real-world outbreak regions, significantly reducing the incidence of cVDPV2 outbreaks.
BE has partnered with PT Bio Farma (PTB) in Indonesia, the first manufacturer to receive WHO pre-qualification for nOPV2. Together, they produce over 500 million doses of the vaccine annually. BE has also received approval from Indian regulatory authorities to manufacture the vaccine for export.
Mahima Datla, Managing Director of BE, expressed pride in contributing to the global effort to eradicate polio. She highlighted the importance of the WHO pre-qualification and the collaboration with PTB and the Gates Foundation. Datla emphasized that this milestone represents hope for millions of children and families worldwide.
Doubts Revealed
Biological E -: Biological E Limited is a company in Hyderabad, India, that makes vaccines to protect people from diseases.
WHO -: WHO stands for the World Health Organization. It is a group that helps countries around the world stay healthy and fight diseases.
pre-qualified -: Pre-qualified means that the WHO has checked and approved the new vaccine, saying it is safe and works well.
oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) -: This is a new kind of polio vaccine that you take by mouth, not by injection. It helps protect against type 2 polio.
clinical trials -: Clinical trials are tests done with people to make sure a new medicine or vaccine is safe and effective before it is used widely.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation -: This is a big charity started by Bill Gates, who founded Microsoft, and his wife Melinda. They help fund projects to improve health and education around the world.
PT Bio Farma -: PT Bio Farma is a company in Indonesia that also makes vaccines. They are working with Biological E to produce the new polio vaccine.
eradicating polio -: Eradicating polio means getting rid of the disease completely so that no one in the world gets polio anymore.